An airline’s introduction of quieter planes at Leeds Bradford Airport has been postponed.

Pakistan International Airlines, which has a record of breaching night-time flying rules at LBA, was meant to be using a Boeing 777 on its services to Islamabad from March 14.

The announcement of the new flights was made seven weeks ago, shortly after Leeds City Council asked for a commitment from the airport and airline on the introduction of the quieter and more reliable B777 aircraft.

But it emerged this week that the introduction of the new flights had been delayed.

A spokeswoman for the airport said it had been postponed pending further talks with PIA.

“We will be making an announcement in due course,” she added.

Members of the council’s Plans Panel South and West heard in December that there had been eight breaches of night-time rules from the airline over the previous 12 months.

Two years earlier the council had served a breach of condition notice on the airport after warning that further contraventions by the airline would not be tolerated. Improvements were made and a subsequent report a year later showed no recent problems.

But after a further eight breaches councillors said they wanted a commitment on timescale for the new planes. Reasons for the contraventions included snow and the late arrival of the incoming flight.

In February the airline announced that it was introducing the Boeing 777 because of high demand. It said the larger aircraft would provide better cabin facilities, with 35 business class seats and 294 in economy.

When the announcement was made Tony Hallwood, Commercial Director at LBA, said: “We have been working closely with the local community and businesses to introduce Boeing 777 operations at LBA.”

A report to the plans panel in December said LBA had some of the most stringent night-time noise restrictions of all the major UK airports.