THE Christmas and New Year getaway is expected to bring 100,000 passengers through Leeds Bradford Airport over a two-week period.

The airport is anticipating its busiest festive period, topping off a year in which it has seen more than 3.2 million travel through the terminal.

Thousands of passengers will be flying from Yorkshire’s gateway airport jetting off home to be with loved ones or to take advantage of the choice of flight and holidays to more than 20 sun, ski and city destinations.

The Canaries hotspot of Tenerife is the top selling destination as holidaymakers go in search of winter sun over the festive season. For those wanting to play golf and enjoy a well earned Christmas break, the Algarve is proving a popular choice.

Skiers meanwhile are sloping off to five countries across Europe taking advantage of the airports widest ever choice of ski flights and holidays, with Geneva being the most popular gateway serving the French and Swiss Alps.

Short breaks are also popular with Paris and Amsterdam joined by Dublin this year as the airports top selling city destinations.

The introduction of new domestic services to Southampton, Aberdeen and Jersey will now allow passengers to avoid road works or rail delays as they fly home this Christmas. The airport expects the most popular regional flights to be to London Heathrow, Belfast and Glasgow.

Tony Hallwood, aviation development director at Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “We look forward to welcoming passengers to Leeds Bradford over the festive period and our airport team will make the start of their Xmas getaway as relaxing as possible. “As record numbers of passengers take advantage of our wide choice of destinations searching for some sun or snow, we also look forward to giving our overseas visitors a truly warm Yorkshire welcome.’’ Visit Leeds Bradford’s website at visit www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk for further information about destinations on offer.