Council leaders in West Yorkshire are to look at the possibility of another regional airport.

They are involved in a study to consider if the West Yorkshire economy would be greater boosted by a more accessible airport.

Senior councillors and business leaders have backed research to assess if Leeds Bradford Airport, in its current location, boosts or hinders future economic aspirations.

The aviation study will assess the airport’s economic contribution and whether the economy could prosper quicker and far wider if the airport was located elsewhere.

It has been commissioned by the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), a body which forms part of the Leeds City Region group of public and private business leaders.

Kirklees Council leader, Clr Mehboob Khan, says he believes the current airport is in the wrong location.

Clr Khan said: “There was a meeting of the LEP and at that meeting it was discussed whether Leeds Bradford Airport is stimulating economic growth or if it’s inhibited due to its current location.

“The LEP has an ambition to have economic growth in the area 2% faster than the national economic growth.

“At the moment the IMF says that’s around 1.4% nationally so we should be aiming for 3.4% growth – that’s our aspiration over a period of time.

“The study will look at the position of Leeds Bradford Airport and whether it’s a catalyst for economic growth.

“It will also look at whether an airport in a new location would provide a greater economic boost than the current location can.”

Clr Khan would not be drawn on locations of any alternative airport, but he said the inaccessibility of Leeds Bradford Airport by public transport was a major hurdle.

“Its location has been raised as an issue before,” Clr Khan, a Greenhead ward councillor, added.

“There are discussions about whether it could be better placed to be a greater contributor of economic growth.

“We have to look at the future growth not just for the next five years but the next 25 to 50 years and we have to plan the region with that in mind.

“It has been bandied about in Whitehall that Manchester Airport is the airport for the north of the country – if we are seeing the loss of inward investment going to the North West and not Yorkshire then the Leeds City Region needs to act.

“Aviation strategy is going to be a big part of that.”

The study is not expected to be complete until next year when it will be presented to LEP board members.

Clr Khan added: “I’ll remain open minded when I read it.

“I have an opinion; I think it’s in the wrong place and I think others share that view, but I’ll look at the study objectively, speak to commuters, businesses and holidaymakers and form a view.”

AIRPORT FACTS

Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBA) was originally Yeadon Aerodrome, founded in 1931.

The Leeds Bradford Airport Joint Committee took over the airport in 1959 with the first daily London service in 1960, a new runway in 1965 and terminal in 1968.

In 1984 a £23m runway extension opened.

In 1987, LBA was converted into a limited company.

In 1994, it gained approval for 24-hour availability.

By 2005, there were 2.6 million passengers passing through the airport.