Firm move to create 200 jobs at airport

The move will also see the airline introduce 12 new routes from next year and make its service to Munich – due to start this winter – become an all-year-round one.

The new list of services to be offered by the airline will include scheduled flights to Barcelona, Rome, Larnaca and Tenerife.

Monarch Airlines also says that business travellers will find opportunities to use the new services which will benefit the Yorkshire economy.

Kevin George, managing director of Monarch Airlines, said: “We see West Yorkshire as a very important market for us and it makes absolute sense that Leeds Bradford Airport should become our sixth base in the UK.

“It will strengthen our operations in the north of England. We estimate it will create about 200 jobs.”

The new services will commence from next March.

Mr George said that the new jobs would include pilots, baggage staff and airport personnel and that recruitment would begin in 2013. He said he would like to see the jobs going to local people.

He added that while Monarch Airlines caters principally for the leisure market, the new services would also attract business customers. “We will fly to places like Rome, Barcelona and Munich so there is potential for business travellers going out and business people coming out of Europe to West Yorkshire.”

John Parkin, chief executive of Leeds Bradford Airport, welcomed the new services.

“The investment provides significant benefits to the local economy alongside bringing new jobs to the region,” he said.

“It is tremendous news for the Leeds City Region and we look forward to a successful relationship with Monarch.”

There have been a number of new services announced recently at the airport, including four flights a day to Heathrow by British Airways.