Seven new routes at Leeds Bradford Airport

SAS said the announcements were not linked and that now was “the perfect time” to strengthen business and commercial links between Leeds and Scandinavia.

The five-flights-a-week service from Humberside Airport only began last October but it will cease next Sunday because of a lack of demand.

The twice-weekly service to Copenhagen from Leeds Bradford began yesterday.

Hans Dyhrfort, the airline’s regional general manager, said: “With almost three million people living within reach of the airport, Leeds Bradford and the Yorkshire region is an important hub of development for SAS.

“With York having established itself as the ‘Viking’ capital of the UK and the Yorkshire area having already strong cultural connections with Scandinavia, this is the perfect time to also strengthen business and commercial links between Leeds and Scandinavia.

“By launching this new direct route to Copenhagen, we are pleased to offer passengers the choice and flexibility to fly direct from Leeds Bradford to Copenhagen and onwards to many other destinations in Scandinavia and beyond.”

The route is the first of seven new services from the Yeadon airport.

Jet2.com begins twice-weekly flights to Budapest, Hungary from Thursday, to the Spanish island Fuerteventura from Friday, to Kos, Greece from May 6, to Verona, Italy from May 14 and to Reus, Spain from June 17. Rival operator Ryanair begins a three-times-weekly service to Girona Barcelona today.

Tony Hallwood, the airport’s aviation development and marketing director, said: “Leeds Bradford is now ready for summer 2014 when we welcome seven new routes, offering an increased destination choice for Yorkshire holidaymakers in search of some summer sun or an exciting city break.”