New carbon accreditation milestone for Leeds Bradford Airport

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has officially achieved Level 4 status in ACI’s Airport Carbon Accreditation (ACA) programme.

The UK gateway claims that it marks a significant step forward in its evolution into a modern, responsible, and future-ready gateway for Yorkshire.

The achievement is part of a core pillar of LBA’s recently launched ‘Together for Tomorrow’ strategy, which outlines a comprehensive roadmap to reach Net Zero carbon emissions for airport operations by 2030.

The Level 4 accreditation signifies a fundamental shift in how an airport manages its carbon footprint. Unlike previous levels that focus primarily on an airport’s own direct emissions, Level 4 requires airports to align their carbon management with the targets of the Paris Agreement and actively drive emissions reductions from third-party partners, including airlines, ground handlers, and transport providers.

Airport CEO, Vincent Hodder, enthused:”Achieving Level 4 accreditation is a powerful validation of the work we are doing through our  Together for Tomorrow strategy.

“It isn’t just about what we do within our own terminal walls; it’s about our role as a leader in the regional economy. This milestone demonstrates our commitment to transforming the way we operate and collaborating deeply with our partners to ensure that the future of aviation in Yorkshire is sustainable.”

LBA is committed to reaching Net Zero for Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2030. Key actions include removing all gas from the terminal and generating energy through onsite renewable technologies. The airport is also part of a consortium leading a £1.5 million government-backed study into Power-to-Liquid Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).

Olivier Jankovec, ACI EUROPE’s director general, noted: This level of accreditation means the airport’s carbon management strategy and practices are fully aligned with the objectives of the Paris Agreement.

“At Level 4, Leeds Bradford Airport is also working even more closely with all the companies carrying out their activities on the airport site to drive decarbonisation across the board.

“With concrete steps in place to reduce their own carbon footprint such as on-site renewable energy generation, the airport is setting a clear path towards net zero emissions under its control by 2030.”

The achievement of Level 4 comes as LBA is making significant progress on LBA:REGEN, its most transformative period in decades including a fundamental transformation and extension of the terminal building and £200m of private investment in the region.