8 April 2022
Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) is to work with air taxi startup Urban-Air Port (UAP) to develop an unmanned and manned aerial vehicle hub.
UAP will be working with LBA to develop an off-grid, hydrogen-powered infrastructure hub at the airport. The main role of the site will be to provide a space for the command, charging and loading of logistics drones, to support drone delivery services in the Leeds City region.
Charles Johnson at LBA said, “This collaboration signifies an exciting development for the airport and highlights the ability of Yorkshire to lead on innovative infrastructure solutions.
“It’s fantastic to see how aviation and its partner industries are developing new technologies that will be essential to our future.”
Ricky Sandhu, Urban-Air Port’s founder, added, “In putting this agreement with LBA in place, we are getting ahead of the curve for the next wave of logistics and infrastructure.
“We are looking forward to developing an ultra-compact, rapidly deployable, multi-functional operations hub with facilities for vehicles providing aircraft command and control, charging/refuelling, cargo, and passenger loading.
“This will result in a future with less vehicles on our road and more sustainable cities.”
Urban-Air Port has begun building its first Air One vertiport for passenger air taxis and logistics drones at a site in Coventry, which will be officially opened on 25 April 2022.
In separate news, Leeds Bradford Airport is withdrawing its planning application for a replacement terminal building following excessive delays.
Airport bosses say they are not prepared to commit a further uncapped sum over an indefinite timeframe into a public inquiry process when their focus needs to be on modernising the airport for the future.
Urban-Air Port
Leeds Bradford Airport
