But the £2 drop-off fee stays and the forecourt isn't going to be snazzy for a while yet
Recession or not, Leeds-Bradford airport is spending £11 million on improving its terminal high on a hill north of Leeds, although two of travellers' grouches will remain, at least for now.
The money will be spent on extending the security area, where there is often a long queue, and enlarging the waiting area for outbound passengers with, inevitably, more shops.
There will also be a covered walkway from the terminal to planes, a potential blessing on an exposed site which frequently gets the brunt of wind and rain. My own Yeadon highlights include a flight which was delayed by icing-up until, on the suggestion of passengers among others, the plane was moved from the shade into sunlight, which did the trick.
The unaltered irritations are the £2 drop-off fee, which leads to passengers getting out on approach roads before their lifts get locked into the one-way, no-escape system; and the continuing mess in the security area imposed on the terminal forecourt after the Glasgow terrorist attack. That was four years ago, but Yeadon's apron between the terminal and the bus-stops has been an unwelcoming dead zone all that time.
This will change, the airport says, once use of a major part of the area for contractors making the terminal improvements is over. The airport is interested in suggestions for how to make the space more agreeable, so please send them in. My own would be some sort of vintage aircraft on display, like the Spitfires and the like which you see at the entrance to RAF bases.
The drop-off fee is staying. The airport says that 12 other UK airports impose similar charges and so this appears to be the shape of things to come. They promise, however, to give better publicity to the option of an hour's free parking in the long-stay with drop-off passengers getting the free shuttle to the terminal. There's also the under-used 757 airport bus to and from Leeds.
Taxi drivers have to pay the fee too, but can buy a £25 annual ticket for 15 free minutes per drop-off in the short-term car park
The investment promises good things otherwise, with Jet2 making a far better fist of being 'Yorkshire's airline' than any of its predecessors. The airport's chief executive John Parkin wants to see passenger numbers rise from 2.95m to 5m and destinations from 70 to 100.
Coun Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council's executive member for city development, says:
The development of the inside of the airport terminal building will greatly improve the travelling experience for overseas visitors, travellers and tourists. All of this is extremely important for bringing business, tourism and investment to Leeds and the wider city region.
We also welcome the new jobs that will be created through the programme and particularly the commitment to use local labour wherever possible."
One matchless thing about Yeadon is coming in from the north on a sunny day when the plane skims in over Otley Chevin and the ground leaps up to meet you after the approach along Wharfedale. It's like landing on a dining room table.