News

Last update: 24-Nov-2004

October 2004

31-Oct-2004

A BBC report stated that Sheffield City Airport operators Peel Holdings (who also own Doncaster-Sheffield [Finningley] Airport) are on a course to close the airport. According to the report, their actions in recent times clearly prove this:

	several airlines' plans to open new scheduled services to/from Sheffield City Airport have been refused;
	part of the airport terminal building has been converted to general office space;
	a planning application has been filed to shorten the runway;
	at least one local aircraft owner has been given notice to remove his aircraft by January 2005.

It is understood that, if by the end of 2007, Sheffield City Airport turns out to be economically unviable, Peel Holdings have an option to buy the land at a price of £1 for conversion to a business park. In interviews, local councillors have accused Peel Holdings of deliberately running down the airport in order to promote Doncaster-Sheffield Airport.

September 2004

20-Sep-2004

With effect from late October, several bus services to/from LBA will change:

First Bradford's 647 service (Bradford-Rawdon-Yeadon-LBA) will be withdrawn.

First Bradford's 651 service (Bradford-Shipley-Guiseley-LBA) will be taken over by Aztecbird and run every 30 mins.

First Bradford's 747 service (Bradford-LBA-Otley) appears to be unaffected (evening & Sundays)

Aztecbird's 757 service will be taken over by First Leeds.

Aztecbird's W9 service (Menston-Otley-LBA) appears unaffected

07-Sep-2004

On a flight from Leeds-Bradford to Aberdeen, an Eastern AW Jetstream 32 with 12 passengers on board suffered a cargo door failure at 12'000 ft, resulting in luggage falling from the aircraft. No persons in the air or on the ground were injured in the incident.

02-Sep-2004

Multiflight is advertising their fleet of 4 Robin training aircraft for sale. Asking prices are well above current market prices, so an early sale seems unlikely. Availability of spares appears to be one of the reasons for putting the aircraft up for sale.

August 2004

22-Aug-2004

DH.104 Dove, G-ARHW, made an emergency landing at LBA today, due to engine failure. The landing was uneventful:

Credit: Chris Mattison

13-Aug-2004

Thomson (TUI) have demanded same low airport charges as 'low-cost' carriers are currently being charged. They have stated that, by Summer 2006, they will pull out from airports that do not meet their request.

10-Aug-2004

London City Airport has contacted respondents to their recent questionnaire on the LCY-LBA route, informing them that the decision to start this route was partly based on the input received through the questionnaire.

July 2004

28-Jul-2004

MyTravel announced the closure of their Leeds-Bradford and Stansted bases. They will continue to fly charters from these airports, but will no longer base aircraft there. In addition, MyTravel is expected to increasingly use sub-charters instead of their own aircraft from LBA and STN.

26-Jul-2004

BMI today announced the introduction on 01-Nov-2004 of their new LBA-London City route, being flown 4 times daily during the week and once on Sundays. Equipment is listed as ATR42. Tickets go on sale 27-Jul-2004.

21-Jul-2004

There is a lot of speculation regarding additional transatlantic routes being considered by Continental AL. Most scenarios centre around Newcastle and Bristol as new bases, but LBA has been mentioned as well.

14-Jul-2004

According to unconfirmed rumours, plans have been drawn up to use Elvington as a storage facility for DC-10s and L.1011s. It appears that to date no commercial agreements have been concluded.

12-Jul-2004

LBA has been asked by Aviation Minister Tony McNulty to produce a provisional strategic plan by the end of this year, along with Humberside and Doncaster-Sheffield. The final version is expected in December 2005.

06-Jul-2004

LBA is running a questionnaire asking (potential) customers about new destinations wanted. Alternatively, suggestions can also be mailed to Jet2.

June 2004

30-Jun-2004

Ryanair's B.737-200 EI-CJF operated its last commercial flight from LBA to Dublin today. It was ferried to a storage facility at Prestwick the next day.

29-Jun-2004

Surprise visitor today was Nigerian Govt. re-engined and winglet configured B.727, 5N-FGN:

5N-FGN

Credit: Tom Turner

For the first time this year overnight parking space ran out, forcing Jet2's B.737, G-CELD, to use RWY27 as its night stop location.

18-Jun-2004

Jet2's winter schedule was announced today. It shows fewer reductions in frequency than last year, indicating loads are expected to be much stronger than last winter. In addition, the Paris-CDG route will continue to be flown this winter.

16-Jun-2004

According to unconfirmed rumours, BMI will introduce the A.319 on scheduled services from LBA.

14-Jun-2004

Jet2 announced the addition of yet another new destination, Paris-CDG. Initially, a single rotation will be flown, departing LBA 11:00, and CDG at 14:20.

10-Jun-2004

PA28 SE-IAD has joined the fleet of the Leeds Flying School and is now registered G-LFSK.

07-Jun-2004

Having suffered a broken windshield over Northern France, a Jet2 B.737 (flight LS271J) returned to LBA after declaring an emergency (PAN). The return flight and landing were uneventful.

05-Jun-2004

To celebrate the 60th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, Air Atlantique's DC-3 G-AMRA was at LBA doing pleasure flights.

May 2004

22-May-2004

Jet2's latest addition, B.737 G-CELB, was delivered to LBA today. It features large red Yorkshire billboard titles:

Credit: Martyn Gill

12-May-2004

Gazpromavia's An-74, RA-74016, appeared on an Aviapaslauga (Lithuania) cargo flight:

Credit: Jorg Thomas

11-May-2004

Atlantic AL brand-new An-72, ES-NOI, visited LBA on a cargo charter from Coventry to Saarbrücken. It is seen here departing Coventry for the short positioning flight to LBA:

Credit: Paul Turner

10-May-2004

Jet2 flight LS288 today made a successful "no flaps" landing at LBA today.

08-May-2004

A Spitfire of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performed a 10 minute display over Haworth.

07-May-2004

LBA resident Sky Service A.320, C-GTDK, made an emergency landing at Paris-CDG today, due to engine malfunction en route to Ibiza. It is expected to be under repair for 2-3 days at CDG.

06-May-2004

	Compared to 2003, passenger numbers for April rose 30% to 189'000, making Leeds-Bradford the fastest growing UK airport. Main contribution came from scheduled traffic which rose by 44% compared to one year ago. Jet2 launched services to Murcia and Venice during the month.
	The meanwhile confirmed charter flights to Zakynthos, starting in Summer 2005, will raise the total number of destinations from LBA to 42.

05-May-2004

A dispute has arisen between Peel, operators of Doncaster-Sheffield, and a local pig farmer. Peel are concerned that the many birds attracted by the extensive pig farm on the airport boundary will pose a safety hazard to aircraft operating to and from the airport. Even though the issue has been discussed for nearly 4 years, it recently escalated when the farm owner decided to invest in additional stock.

03-May-2004

The third British Midland AW Fk100 to be based at LBA was delivered today (arriving as BMA9511). It's duties at Heathrow have been taken up by a newly delivered A.319.