Reader reaction as Leeds Bradford Airport chiefs say they want to start flights at 6am

The facility currently has permission to operate flights during the day between 7am and 11pm, but as part of early plans for a brand new £150m terminal, the airport also wishes to extend its operating times to 6am-11.30pm.

According to a report from Leeds City Council officers, LBA wants to make the changes to ‘accommodate new airline operators’ and bring the airport in line with other facilities across the UK.

LBA also claimed its current restrictions give it a ‘competitive disadvantage’ with other UK airports.

Here's what you said about the plans:

Alistair Young said: "This is part of LBA’s expansion plans to have 7m passengers by 2030. The air quality in Leeds is in the worst 10 per cent of UK urban areas, and deaths caused by pollution now exceed more deaths than on our roads. The expansion plans include a new access road across green belt (from a park and ride concrete car park) because a train link is not “affordable”. So Leeds will have a massive increase in car transport and flights adding to the already dangerous levels of air pollution, not to mention noise pollution over the city. At least if they open a Stockholm route, we can fly Greta over here. Then she can get people to wake up to the fatal harm that this planned expansion will bring to Leeds. Leeds City Council - you are a joke: https://cleanairleeds.co.uk/what-are-we-doing."

Cheryl Day Dockerty said: "Airports should be 24 hours with limited flights throughout the early hours, but most people are up at 6am these days anyway, and I’m sure I’ve been on 6am flights from there.. having said that I wouldn’t want to live near an airport .. we get motorway noise and that’s bad enough.

Phil Hanson said: "Many large airports have restrictions and Leeds is no different. NO!"

Guy Antony Moxon added: "No we don’t want to hear planes setting off at 6.00am. Noise pollution. Leave it as it is."

Emily May Brimecombe said: "I think it doesn’t matter what time they fly out. At the end of the day it’s an airport, and if people don’t like it then move where there isn’t any airport nearby. If they want to live nearby then they have got to get used to the airport noises."

Andy Romero-Birkbeck said: "Great news! Earlier flights and more domestic flights needed."

Others thought the plans would make no practical difference anyway

Jon Winter said: "Those operating hours are treated as guidelines and all airport operators are allowed a small percentage outside of those hours. Also, if they do exceed the limits then the fines are so small that the airports simply cover them and add the cost into the slots they sell to the airlines."

Caryn Lomax added: "I thought the times were 6am to 2am... I’ve flown out at 6:30am and also flown back in between 1-2am. I’m two miles away and on the edge of the flight path, I sleep through, even with the windows open."

What do you think? Email [email protected]