EasyJet has confirmed it will permanently cease all flights from Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) effective January 5, 2027, ending a 16-year presence at the Yorkshire hub. The budget carrier has cancelled all routes from the airport, including services to Geneva, Paris, Belfast, Barcelona, Malaga, and Mallorca.
EasyJet cites route review for withdrawal
In a statement to Metro, EasyJet explained that the decision followed a review of its operations at LBA. The airline stated: 'Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January. Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.'
Customers with EasyJet bookings from Leeds Bradford beyond January 5, 2027, have been offered a free transfer to flights from an alternative airport or a refund, the operator confirmed, and apologised for any inconvenience caused. Scheduled flights will operate as normal until January 5, 2027.
Ryanair steps in with rescue fares
For travellers determined to depart from West Yorkshire, Ryanair has moved quickly to fill the gap. On Thursday, August 20, the competitor carrier announced 'rescue fares' on EasyJet's 'full Leeds Bradford schedule' from January 5, 2027, including its existing Malaga route, for £29.99. This discounted price will be available to book until the end of February.
Ryanair's director of communications, Jade Kirwan, said in a statement to Metro: 'While EasyJet abandons Leeds Bradford, cutting its full schedule from 5 Jan 2027, Ryanair is saving the day with rescue fares from just £29.99 for affected passengers – particularly those booked to fly easyJet from Leeds Bradford to Malaga, who can now switch to one of Ryanair's 10 Malaga services per week.'
Route availability and airline context
Currently, EasyJet flights from Leeds Bradford to Belfast are available to book up until January 4, 2027, according to their website. Paris is available until January 1, Barcelona until January 2, Malaga and Mallorca until November 1, while Geneva, a seasonal route, has no dates available to book at all.
EasyJet reportedly represented only 3.3% of Leeds Bradford's network this summer, which includes over 1,000 routes. Jet2 and Ryanair account for the vast majority, at 83.5%. As such, the short-term impact on revenue is expected to be low for Leeds Bradford, which recorded its 'busiest year ever' with 4.29 million passengers between 2024 and 2025.
Other airlines currently flying from Leeds Bradford include Leeds-based Jet2.com, plus fellow budget airline Ryanair, and Tui, KLM, Wizz Air, and SunExpress.
Broader EasyJet developments
This news comes after it was announced earlier in August that EasyJet is set to be bought by private equity firm Apollo in a deal worth £5.7 billion. Apollo pledged not to cut any jobs within the first year after the takeover is completed. The air carrier currently employs over 19,000 people.
It has not been a stellar year for the airline, as EasyJet reported a 70% profit fall in July, attributed to an increase in jet fuel prices and lower bookings. Despite this, global travel data provider OAG revealed EasyJet remained the UK's largest airline by seat capacity this summer, offering about 23.4 million departure seats from and within the country, an increase of 5.2% from last summer.
In other EasyJet news, the airline announced in June that it will launch 13 new winter routes for eight regional airports – including Newquay Airport, one of the smallest commercial airports in the UK, and the first international route from the airport for EasyJet. The company also introduced new routes to Preveza, the gateway to Lefkada, the 'Greek Caribbean', from Manchester Airport, which started on June 24.
Last year, Leeds Bradford opened its new £100 million terminal expansion, which included more retail space, seating, and new lounges. Jet2 also announced new routes to Santorini and Preveza from the airport. Metro has contacted Leeds Bradford Airport for comment.
