FLIGHTS from Leeds Bradford Airport to Heathrow by British Airways are being cut “to match demand” a spokesman for the flight operator has said.

Airport staff were told yesterday of the changes, under which flights to and from London Heathrow by BA would be cut from 20 to 10 per week – five each way.

A spokesman for Leeds Bradford Airport said the news that BA was reducing the number of weekly flights from 20 to 10 in each direction was a blow to their hopes that Heathrow’s ongoing runway expansion plans would have attracted more people to Yorkshire.

He said: “We are disappointed with the decision of British Airways to reduce the frequency of its services to Leeds Bradford Airport.

“As the international gateway for Yorkshire and given our continued support for a third runway at Heathrow, this news is disappointing for the largest region in the UK. We have previously stated that we believe Heathrow expansion will enable Yorkshire to attract even more inward investment, exports and tourism by providing greater reach to key international markets via our own air link to Heathrow.”

“We hope the people of Yorkshire will still fully support the route, enabling us to prove to British Airways that the largest region in the UK can support a viable and profitable service going forward.”

Confirming the reduction in service, Sean Doyle British Airways’ director of networks said: "We are maintaining the important air link between Yorkshire and Heathrow, but have had to take the difficult decision to reduce the frequency of flights to match demand.

“We will maintain a daily service and on the busiest days of the week there will be two flights a day to and from Heathrow.

“We appreciate that the connections from Heathrow are important for business and leisure travellers and we are re-timing the morning flight so that customers can more conveniently connect to more of our long-haul flights.”