Multiflight is currently spending around £45,000 adding a new screening facility at its Leeds-Bradford base, from where it operates company owner David Hood’s BBJ2. The move comes as a result of the European ruling that for commercial flights of more than 10 metric tonnes or 19 seats, all passengers must

be screened.

The equipment consists of a metal archway detector and a ‘huge’ scanning machine which checks all the luggage.

Multiflight is located on the south side of the airport, handling GA and business jet traffic, while scheduled flights are dealt with on the north side of the airport, where the main terminal is situated.

The company has recently invested in an £8.5 million new complex, which includes two new hangars and the refurbishment of an old hangar, and the construction of a new taxiway, apron and fuel farm.

Unfortunately for Multiflight, one source of private traffic to the region has recently dried up because football team Leeds United have just been relegated from England’s Premier League. This follows the club’s exit from European competition several years ago, which was also a good source of income for the company.

That said, handling manager Heather Cawthorne told us there were other factors attracting traffic right now. “Leeds is an up-and-coming area,” she said. “It attracts lots of visitors and the conference area around Leeds, Harrogate and York is bringing in more and more traffic. We also get busy around the time of the York Races.”