THE number of people arrested for disruptive behaviour at Leeds Bradford Airport in the last year has dropped by more than a third, despite national figures showing a 50 per cent rise.

Figures released by West Yorkshire Police show 13 arrests were made at the Yeadon airport in the 2016/17 financial year for disruptive behaviour, which includes being drunk and disorderly, public order offences and violence, or offences contrary to the Air Navigation Order 2009.

This is down from 21 arrests in 2015/16, but up from the 11 arrests in 2014/15.

The figures follow a national report which suggests 387 arrests were made at UK airports between February 2016 and February 2017, up from 255 arrests in the previous year.

A spokesman for Leeds Bradford Airport said the airport does not have a problem with disruptive passengers.

She said: “Disruptive passenger incidents are rare at Leeds Bradford Airport.

“Airport staff, West Yorkshire Police and our business partners work closely together to ensure that any such incidents are dealt with in the correct manner to minimise any potential impact to other passengers.”

Leeds Bradford Airport is signed up to the UK Aviation’s Industry’s code of practice on disruptive passengers, which includes rules stating airlines and bars should not serve drunk passengers, that duty free retailers should advise passengers they cannot drink their purchases onboard, and ensuring staff cooperate with police investigations.

Airline Jet2.com, which is based at Leeds Bradford Airport, is also signed up to the code of practice, and has banned the sale of alcohol on its journeys before 8am.

Phil Ward, Jet2.com managing director, said: “I think airports could do more.

“I think the retailers could do more as well. We cannot allow it not to change.”

He added some bars sell extra-large glasses of beer, and duty free shops sell mixed drinks and miniature bottles of spirits, items which are not sold on the high street, which “can only be there for one reason”.

Boarding an aircraft while drunk or being drunk on an aircraft is a criminal offences with a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

Air-side bars and pubs also do not have to comply to licensing laws which restrict the sale of alcohol during certain hours.