BA insists committed to Leeds Bradford

The airline said the flights, which operate three times a day, would be reduced to twice a day in the quieter winter months.

From the end of October, BA will cut out its weekday afternoon flights between the two airports.

A BA spokeswoman said it was a temporary measure and the flights would resume in December.

“Post-summer it is normal airline practice to decrease the network to meet the needs of the business,” she said.

“We need to maintain the aircraft and also meet business demand. It’s not personal to Leeds Bradford, it happens everywhere.”

She added: “We are very much committed to Leeds Bradford. It’s an important route to us and we are committed to making it work. We have no plans to permanently reduce this service.”

British Airways began operating flights from Leeds Bradford to Heathrow in December 2012 after a gap of more than three decades.

The new link promised greater connectivity between Yorkshire exporters and international markets via new trade routes. The move was welcomed by business leaders.

Olympic boxer Luke Campbell met the first flight with Andy Lord, British Airways director of operations, and John Parkin, chief executive Leeds Bradford Airport in December 2012.

Initially it offered four daily flights but a month later BA revealed it was cutting to the number to three by merging the lunchtime and early afternoon flights after moving the service to Heathrow’s Terminal 5.