"It will never take longhaul"
Rainboe it already does! TUI 767s have been doing it on and off for years on cruise fights to Barbados etc. Wardair did a Toronto before they expired using 747/DC10 before another operator, can't remember their name also now expired I believe, took over with 757s and even DC-8s. Swefly did Lahore with 767s before they folded, and no these airlines didn't collapse due to their LBA losses! Agreed the runway does need more length to do it direct at full load daily, when the wind doesn't play and yes it does need resurfacing and flattening like Luton did, another on the hill airport doing nicely thanks! Another 100m at each end would probably surfice but the end which needs it most ,the Leeds end, is constrained to not much more than that sadly.
All in all with a small focus on the runway and landing aids the place would certainly be slightly safer and more capable but even without it, it will still flourish purely due to it's location and the fact that a new Leeds airport simply wont happen. I look forward to the next couple of years and hope to see this turkey meet it's long overdue potential.