Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA)

Leeds Bradford Airport has no airside smoking area as of August 2024, and that decision is now permanent following the completion of the airport's £100 million LBA:REGEN terminal redevelopment. If you smoke, your only option is a single designated outdoor area located outside the terminal building, before you pass through security. Once you go through, there is nowhere to smoke until you reach your destination.

Before Security

There is one designated smoking area, situated outside the terminal front, away from the main entrance. The airport's own website confirms this is the only spot on the entire campus where smoking is permitted. Vaping (electronic cigarettes) is also only allowed in this same outdoor area, not anywhere inside the terminal building.

• Head outside the terminal entrance before checking in or going through security.

• The area is described as being "away from the terminal front" rather than immediately at the doors, so allow a few extra minutes.

• No re-entry to the airside is possible once you have passed through security, so time your smoke break carefully before you join the security queue.

After Security

There is no smoking area airside. The former airside smoking room was closed on 19 August 2024 to facilitate construction work, and airport bosses confirmed in June 2025 that it has been permanently removed as part of the new terminal design. There are no paid lounges at LBA that offer a smoking terrace or smoking room either, so paying for lounge access will not give you a place to smoke once you are past security.

Vaping Rules

Electronic cigarettes follow exactly the same rules as tobacco: permitted only in the outdoor designated smoking area before security, and banned everywhere inside the terminal. Before bringing a vape device on board, check with your specific airline, as policies on carrying e-cigarettes in cabin baggage vary.

Penalties

The airport operates a zero-tolerance policy on indoor smoking and vaping. Anyone caught smoking or vaping inside the terminal faces a fine of up to £2,500 and can be ejected from the airport, even if that means missing their flight. This applies to the new terminal building and all indoor areas.

Bottom Line

Smoke before you go through security, because once you are airside there is absolutely nowhere to smoke at LBA, and no lounge or workaround will change that. Budget extra time before joining the security queue.