University of Leeds academics call on government to intervene on Leeds Bradford Airport decision

The signatories, including 46 professors and associate professors, wrote that expanding LBA’s passenger numbers would make it much more difficult - and more costly - for the UK to achieve its climate targets.

A "state of the art" £150m terminal building was given the go-ahead by councillors last month, with a meeting set for next week to discuss any final tweaks to the plan.

The outcome paves the way for the new terminal, an increase in passengers from four million to seven million a year and the expansion of daylight flying hours from 6am to 11.30pm.