Leeds Bradford Airport has started work on a multi-million investment in its passenger terminal.

The airport said the £11 million construction project would increase space by 65 per cent over two floors, creating a new departure lounge with 2,500 sq m extra space, a new range of upgraded food and beverage offers, a walk through tax and duty free store and additional retail units.

The principal construction work is being carried out by Morgan Sindall’s Leeds office, employing over 100 construction workers at the airport, and is expected to be completed by summer 2012.

The Yorkshire Premier Lounge will also be enlarged and developed to provide for both business and leisure travellers, and the airport will enlarge the security search zone, all of the boarding gate areas and will build a covered walkway to aircraft from the terminal.

Tony Hallwood, commercial director for Leeds Bradford Airport, said the better facilities would attract more passengers and in turn more airlines with new routes.

He said: “Importantly for York, the airport is a key gateway not just for business and conference traffic, but also inbound tourism.”

Coun James Alexander, leader of City of York Council, said: “Leeds Bradford Airport is a vital national and international link to York and the wider region and the plans to invest in new facilities is fantastic news.

“A more modern airport will not only improve connectivity to the region, assisting local businesses as well as making the area an even more attractive proposition for companies wanting to relocate here. Long established businesses have expressed to me that access to international flights is a barrier to economic growth in York and these plans will help support business growth as well as helping develop new markets for tourism.”