Spitfires, De Havilland Mosquitoes out of here. RAF Yeadon finally closed in 1959. No. 609 (West Riding) Squadron RAF 1936–1939, 1946–1950 No. 23 Gliding School RAF 1946–1950 Leeds University Air Squadron 1955–1960 No. 1970 Flight RAF 1952–1957 Aircraft that were based at Yeadon: Hawker Hart 1936–1938 Hawker Hind 1938–1939 Supermarine Spitfire 1946 De Havilland Mosquito 1946–1948 Slingsby Cadet TX.1 1946–1950 Slingsby Grunau Baby 1947–1950 de Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunk 1955–1960 Auster 1952–1957 Airport ownership Leeds and Bradford councils jointly bought the airport site in 1930 and it opened as Yeadon Aerodrome in 1931. The airport became a limited company in 1987, and was shared between the five boroughs, Leeds (40%), Bradford (40%) and Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees (sharing the remaining 20%). In October 2006, plans to privatise the airport were confirmed and on 4 April 2007 the five controlling councils announced that Bridgepoint Capital had been selected as the preferred bidder. On 4 May 2007, Bridgepoint Capital acquired the airport from Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Calderdale and Kirklees councils for £145.5 million. Although Bridgepoint Capital owned the airport 100% financially, the councils hold a "special share" in the airport, to protect its name and continued operation as an air transport gateway for the Yorkshire region. In November 2017, Bridgepoint Capital sold the airport to AMP Capital who own several other airports around the world. AMP plans to expand the airport, improve the customer experience and secure more business flights. Airlines and destinations The following airlines operate regular scheduled and charter flights to and from Leeds Bradford: Statistics Passengers and movements Routes Ground transport Bus services to and from the airport are currently operated by Transdev Blazefield under the Flyer brand. The network currently consists of three routes. A1 to Rawdon, Horsforth, Hawksworth, Kirkstall and Leeds. A2 to Pool, Pannal and Harrogate to the North, and Yeadon, Rawdon, Apperley Bridge, Greengates, and Bradford to the South. A3 to Pool and Otley to the North, and Yeadon, Guiseley, Charlestown, Shipley and Bradford to the South. Services were previously operated by Yorkshire Tiger, branded as 'Flying Tiger'. The routes were numbered 737 (A3), 747 (A2) and 757 (A1). The tender was given to Transdev Blazefield in August 2020 due to Covid resulting in the routes no longer being commercially viable for Yorkshire Tiger. Bus services to the cities of Leeds and Bradford link the airport with the National Rail network via Leeds railway station,