BRITISH Airways is to start four-times-a-day flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Heathrow from December.

The flights are timed to connect to worldwide destinations such as Hong Kong, New York, Johannesburg, Singapore and Sydney.

Andy Lord, director of operations for British Airways, said: “This is a welcome return to Yorkshire for British Airways and we are very excited about flying from this excellent, commercially important airport once again.

“BMI’s integration into British Airways is enabling us to grow our network as we promised, giving customers more flights to destinations we know they want to fly to. Leeds Bradford has a significant catchment area and we are delighted to offer not only direct flights to London but a well timed schedule that will allow customers from this region to connect with our extensive short haul and long haul flights from Heathrow.”

John Parkin, chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, said: “This important new service to Heathrow connects Yorkshire with the world. It provides our businesses with the access they need to emerging and established global markets, and enables those markets to easily come to Yorkshire, bringing their investment and inbound tourism direct into our region.”

Gillian Cruddas, chief executive, Visit York, said: “A British Airways service to Heathrow and worldwide is fantastic news for York and the wider Yorkshire region. Accessibility is key to our growing visitor economy and new routes will open up new international markets for us in the years to come.”

Neil Taylor, interim director of city and environmental services, City of York Council, said: “The Leeds City Region Strategy and our York Economic Strategy both have a strong international element to them, particularly in exporting to new and emerging markets. This announcement of new flights from LBIA to Heathrow is an important boost for York; in expanding our reach and attracting more visitors and investors to the city.”

Brian L Dunsby, chief executive of Harrogate Chamber of Trade & Commerce, said the chamber had been lobbying for the restoration of the service since BMI withdrew it in 2009. He said: “Many local businesses need the international connectivity with long-haul flights from Heathrow for their outbound sales missions and also to attract inward investors. Likewise overseas delegates to international conferences and trade exhibitions in the Harrogate International Centre will find the flights invaluable.”