To accommodate passenger traffic, work commenced on the first terminal in the late 1930s, although only the first wing was completed before the Second World War.

On 4 November 1984, the day a runway extension was opened, Wardair commenced transatlantic flights to Toronto, using Boeing 747s.

On 2 August 1986, an Air France Concorde charter flight from Paris landed for the first time, drawing an estimated crowd of 70,000 people.

To accommodate the expanding passenger numbers, work commenced on a terminal building but progress was halted after a single wing had been completed.

[15] During this time, the German zeppelin LZ 129 Hindenburg overflew the aerodrome and while the flight was claimed to be for publicity purposes, it was later found to have been engaged in espionage.

[19] About 5,515 aircraft were produced at Yeadon of the following main types: Anson (more than 4,500), Bristol Blenheim (250), Lancaster bomber (695), York (45) and the Lincoln (25).

[20] Local resident Geoff Rennard who had campaigned for Leeds and Bradford to have an aerodrome established an Aero Club.

In 1955, services to Belfast, Jersey, Ostend, Southend, the Isle of Wight and Düsseldorf were added to Yeadon's destination list.

Worldways Canada, Odyssey International, Air Transat, Nationair and Caledonian all operated transatlantic services from the airport well into the 1990s using Lockheed Tristar and Boeing 757–200 airliners.

Leeds Bradford Airport had restricted operating hours that proved to be a deterrent to many charter airlines, whose cheap fares were heavily dependent on 'round-the-clock' use of their aircraft.

[20] On 6 October 2005, the original runway, 09/27, was permanently closed; it has since been redeveloped as a taxiway and to provide additional apron space.

In order to comply with Pakistani government regulations, it needed to switch to a plane registered in Pakistan within three months.

[34][35][36] In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the construction of a temporary extension to the terminal front, titled the 'Preparation Zone',[37] acting as a space to queue, maintain Social distancing measures, and to ensure all passengers were wearing face masks as per the UK Government's COVID-19 strategy.

The airport processes a small amount of freight from its two cargo sheds on site with a view to expanding this operation, a key focus of the business and master-plan objectives.

[55][56] The link road was dropped, with plans for Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway railway station taken for further development.

[58] A planning application for a new terminal was submitted in early 2020 with permission granted by Leeds City Council in February 2021, alongside a rise in annual passenger numbers from four to seven million.

[62] By March 2022, citing "excessive delays", the proposal for a new terminal was withdrawn and efforts were again placed into implementing the 2019 expansion plans.

[66][67][68] 609 (West Riding) Squadron AAF was based at Yeadon from its formation on 10 February 1936,[69] until 27 August 1939 when it was relocated to Catterick.

Safety speed (at which the aircraft needs to be flown and controlled on a single engine) was not reached until over flying central Leeds when taking off in that direction—with drastic results should things go wrong.

The airfield sloped downhill and it was necessary to land at RAF Linton-on-Ouse (20 miles away) if the wind was coming from the wrong direction.

[72] This was sufficient as a short-term measure, but the grass airstrip was not ideally suited to Spitfire operations, and it was decided that 609 Squadron should move to the hard runways of RAF Church Fenton in October 1950.

Once 609 (West Riding) Squadron left for Catterick, Yeadon served as a Flying Training School, bomber maintenance unit, and a scatter airfield.

The Royal Air Force remained a part of Yeadons life until 1957, operating Austers, Supermarine Spitfires, de Havilland Mosquitoes out of here.

[23] In October 2006, plans to privatise the airport were confirmed and on 4 April 2007 the five controlling councils announced that Bridgepoint Capital had been selected as the preferred bidder.

On 4 May 2007, Bridgepoint Capital acquired the airport from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees councils for £145.5 million.

A2 to Pool, Pannal and Harrogate to the North, and Yeadon, Rawdon, Apperley Bridge, Greengates, and Bradford to the South.

The tender was given to Transdev Blazefield in August 2020 due to Covid resulting in the routes no longer being commercially viable for Yorkshire Tiger.

They are also the dedicated FBO at the airfield and provide helicopter and fixed wing charter flights as well as aircraft sales and management.

[98] General aviation operations are confined to the south-side of the airport, in order to maintain separation from commercial traffic utilising the main terminal.

[101] Prior to 1985, there were two recorded incidents of runway overruns at Leeds Bradford Airport, both involving British Midland Airways Viscount aircraft, and both showing evidence of hydroplaning.