Leeds Bradford at a glance
Leeds Bradford is Yorkshire's main airport, on a hilltop near Yeadon between Leeds and Bradford. Jet2 started out here and is still by far the biggest airline, with Ryanair second. Aer Lingus and KLM add useful links to Dublin, Belfast and Amsterdam.
There's no long-haul from Leeds Bradford, but KLM's flights to Amsterdam connect you to a worldwide network with one change.
This guide covers the main routes for winter 2026/27, checked in October 2026. Routes and days change often, so check the airline's timetable before you plan around a route.
What's changing this winter
- easyJet is leaving. It's ending its flights from Leeds Bradford after 5 January 2027, dropping Belfast, Barcelona, Malaga, Palma and Paris Charles de Gaulle. All five should keep a direct link: Jet2 and Ryanair already fly to Barcelona, Malaga, Palma and Paris, and Aer Lingus flies to Belfast City.
- Jet2 is adding Egypt. New flights to Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada this winter bring warm Red Sea sun within about five and a half hours.
- Jet2 is adding Tallinn, Estonia's medieval capital and a lovely winter city break.
Looking further ahead, Ryanair plans new routes for summer 2027 to Corfu, Budapest, Bari and Tirana, from late March.
Winter sun
Jet2's winter programme from Leeds Bradford is the main reason most people fly from here between November and March. It includes the Canary Islands, the easy choice for reliable warmth at about four and a half hours, and now Egypt.
- Tenerife and Gran Canaria: the warmest of the Canaries in winter.
- Fuerteventura and Lanzarote: long beaches and volcanic scenery.
- Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada: new, and warmer than the Canaries in December and January.
Ryanair also flies to Spain and Portugal year-round, including Malaga and the Algarve, which are mild rather than hot in winter. Our December and January pages compare how warm each place really is.
City breaks and Christmas markets
For a short winter break, the options from Leeds Bradford include:
- Krakow: Ryanair has added more flights, and its Christmas market is one of the best value in Europe. Our post on Budapest or Krakow at Christmas compares the two.
- Barcelona, Paris and Palma: with Jet2, and Ryanair to some.
- Tallinn: new with Jet2, with a cosy Christmas market in its old town square.
- Warsaw: added by Ryanair in 2026.
- Amsterdam: with KLM, which also makes it easy to connect onwards.
- Dublin: with Aer Lingus, for a weekend in the city.
Jet2 also sells Christmas market city breaks with flights from Leeds Bradford. Check which cities are on this year's programme.
Getting to Leeds Bradford
Leeds Bradford has no railway station, so most people drive, get a lift or take the bus:
- Bus: the A1 Flyer runs between the airport and Leeds city centre, via Horsforth and Kirkstall. Other Flyer buses run to Bradford and Harrogate. Check the timetable for early flights.
- Car: the airport is at the top of a hill, and the roads around it can be slow at rush hour or in snow. Drop-off by the terminal is charged, so check current prices or pre-book parking.
- Taxi: around 25 to 35 minutes from Leeds or Bradford, depending on traffic.
It's also one of the highest airports in England, so fog and low cloud can occasionally delay flights in winter. Keep an eye on your airline's app on the day.
How to pick from the departures list
A long list of routes is not the same as a decision. Start with how long you want to travel: from Leeds Bradford, the Canaries take around four to four and a half hours, the Spanish mainland and Portugal two and a half to three, and most city breaks around two hours. Then think about what the trip is for. If you want guaranteed warmth in winter, the Canaries, Egypt and Madeira are the safe bets. If you just want a change of scene for a long weekend, a city with Christmas markets or good food is easier to fit in.
Check which days your route actually flies, too. Many winter routes from regional airports run only two or three times a week, so the length of your trip may be set by the schedule rather than by you.
Where could you go from Leeds Bradford?
For a first winter sun trip, Tenerife is the safe bet, or try one of the new Red Sea routes for more warmth. For a Christmas market weekend, Krakow is great value. If you're happy to change in Amsterdam, KLM opens up long-haul trips too. Our winter sun and city breaks pages have more ideas.
If everyone wants somewhere different, our guide to how to decide where to go on holiday shows how to settle it. Everyone adds ideas, gives them points, and a draw picks the winner.
