Leeds Bradford Airport LIVE: Passengers to be diverted as UK airport closes
Brits arriving at Leeds Bradford Airport today face cancellations or diversions to hubs miles away.
The Ryanair and Jet2.com base in Yorkshire has been forced to close due to an issue with its runway and so cannot accept arrivals until at least 6am. It means passengers returning from the likes of Spain, France, The Netherlands and Turkey will land at different airports, including Newcastle, Manchester and East Midlands.
Two Jet2.com flights from Turkey have been diverted to Birmingham, which is more than 130 miles from Leeds Bradford. It is unclear what transfers - if any - have been arranged at these alternative bases.
Passengers have been told to check with their airlines, with the airport's online arrival board listing cancellations to some incoming flights. The airport usually operates flights 24 hours a day after it was granted planning permission to do so in 1994.
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Leeds Bradford Airport has been closed overnight amid issues with its runway.
Passengers have been told to check with their airlines, with the airport's online arrival board listing cancellations to some incoming flights.
The airport usually operates flights 24 hours a day after it was granted planning permission to do so in 1994.
In a statement on its website at midnight, the airport said repair teams were on site and the runway was expected to reopen at 6am on Saturday.
An update said work was progressing and advised passengers to arrive as planned unless told otherwise by their airline.
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At present, the next plane to depart Leeds Bradford Airport is the 5.25am flight to Heraklion in Crete. LBA have confirmed there is an issue with the runway and all flights in and out since 9pm could not take place.
The Mirror will continue to monitor the situation.
Bradley Jolly
Leeds Bradford Airport says "repairs" are underway, though hasn't specified what exactly.
The hub confirmed the issue concerns the runway, and is so severe no flights can leave or arrive at the hub until at least 6am.
The latest update, posted on its website in the last few moments, says: "The airport is currently closed due to an unexpected runway issue. Repairs are underway, and we expect to reopen the runway at 06:00. Passengers should check directly with their airline for the latest flight information."
The next update is likely at 2am.
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The one departure cancelled is a 6.20am flight for Amsterdam.
Passengers on this flight should contact their aline, which is KLM.
Check-in opens for a Heraklion flight at 2.25am, as it stands, but this could change.
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The next arrival into Leeds Bradford scheduled for its original time is a Wizz Air Hungary flight from Gdansk at 7.10am.
A Dublin flight with Ryanair should also arrive shortly after, as originally scheduled.
But monitor The Mirror's blog in case the picture changes nearer the time.
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The airport is not expected to reopen until 6am at the earliest.
A spokesperson for Leeds Bradford Airport said at around 10pm last night: "Due to an unforeseen issue with the runway, we have had to take the decision to close the airport until the morning.
"Customers are advised to check with their airline for the most up-to-date information regarding their flight.
"We are working to resolve the disruption as soon as possible, the safety and comfort of the passengers travelling through our terminal is our number one priority.
"Our team is on the ground in the terminal to answer any customer queries regarding departures."
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Two Jet2.com flights from Turkey - due to land at 2.25am and 2.50am - have been diverted to Birmingham.
But Birmingham is more than 130 miles from Leeds Bradford Airport - a two-hour-and-a-half car journey.
It is unclear what communication - if anything - these passengers have received.
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Among the long list of inbound flights cancelled or diverted due to the issues include planes from Palma, Majorca and Nice, France.
Flights have been diverted to the likes of Manchester Airport and East Midlands Airport, likely to put strain on these hubs.
An Alicante flight due in at 10.50pm will instead go to Newcastle, more than 90 miles away.
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Footage has emerged online of passengers queuing outside the airport in heavy rain.
It is unclear what information has been passed onto the passengers, who are seen in the clip desperately trying to take shelter in the showers.
Rain is anticipated until the early hours across Yorkshire.
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Passengers have been told to check with their airlines - with the airport's online arrival board listing cancellations to some incoming flights.
The airport usually operates flights 24 hours a day after it was granted planning permission to do so in 1994. Dozens of flights depart from the airport every day.
The designated night-time flight period is from 11pm to 7am, when only the quietest jets are permitted to operate, the airport's website said.
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Leeds Bradford Airport has been closed overnight amid issues with its runway.
A statement on its website, posted at 10pm on Friday, reads: "Due to an unforeseen issue with the runway, we have had to take the decision to close the airport until the morning.
"Customers are advised to check with their airline for the most up-to-date information regarding their flight.
"We are working to resolve the disruption as soon as possible, the safety and comfort of the passengers travelling through our terminal is our number one priority.
"Our team is on the ground in the terminal to answer any customer queries regarding departures."
Runway Issue Grounds Leeds Bradford Airport OvernightLeeds Bradford Airport (LBA) shut its runway tonight due to sudden damage, halting all flights until morning.
Vincent Holder, the airport’s CEO, was seen this evening single-handedly loading coaches to aid stranded… pic.twitter.com/5tFPZWCXRO
— Yapp (@YappAppLtd) October 24, 2025
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