YORK'S new airport shuttle bus service is now attracting 500 passengers a week as it continues to gain in popularity, the operators revealed today.

The direct service from York to Leeds Bradford Airport was launched almost two months ago by York bus operator First. The 55-minute express link operates 17 times a day, seven days a week - an average of only four passengers a bus.

A Wetherby man, Paul Kirby, who has revived a public transport campaign group Wetherby BusWatch, has claimed the air coaches are frequently empty when he sees them passing Wetherby en route to the airport.

First's commercial director Peter Edwards said: "The number of people using the service is increasing every week, and the response is most encouraging."

He said the number of passengers had reached 500 a week, which was in line with the company's targets.

He said it was true that some buses had few people on them, but this had always been expected in the early days of a speculative venture which was already enjoying passenger growth.

First had always anticipated that numbers would be low at the very beginning, and then rise over time as people became increasingly aware of its existence and of the convenience of using the service.

He said in the first few months, numbers might also be restricted by people having already made alternative plans to get to the airport, such as taking their car or using a taxi.

He said the air coach was introduced as a permanent service which people would know was available in the future, rather than as an experiment.

Mr Edwards said the coach was already being promoted to passengers arriving at the airport, but revealed that an advertising campaign was being planned to promote it to York people planning to fly out from Leeds-Bradford.

Tickets bought in advance over the internet cost £10 single and £15 return, including free bus travel to and from the York city centre terminus. Passengers buying tickets on the coach pay £12 single and £17 return.

First claims the fare is a highly competitive rate, comparing with £40 for a week's parking at the airport.