a Jet2 aircraft specifically requested runway 14 (instead 32) for 'performance reasons' - Why might that be?
This is typical at Leeds, it's all to do with them bl**dy great hills to the NW (wheras there are no obstacles to the SE as the ground falls away towards Leeds). We need to ensure a minimum climb gradient in the event of an engine failure, to clear all obstacles by a designated margin.
For our A320s with CFM engines we are restricted to around 72,600kg take-off weight from runway 32 (assuming dry, nil wind, 15 degrees).
From runway 14 however we can lift our full maximum take-off weight of 77,000kg, even with a 5 knot tailwind.
Makes all the difference when trying to get to the Canaries non-stop.