Leeds-Bradford Airport wants daily flights to New York
Bosses at Leeds Bradford Airport have launched a campaign to offer daily flights to the United States which they say will create 400 new jobs and bring an extra £10m to the region.
Bosses at Leeds Bradford Airport have launched a campaign to offer daily flights to the United States which they say will create 400 new jobs and bring an extra £10m to the region.
Project America aims to attract an American airline to LBA by the middle of the next decade offering a daily scheduled service to New York.
Launching the campaign to a packed audience of influential business and leisure group leaders, Tony Hallwood, LBA's Commercial Director, said a daily New York flight would offer a wide range of benefits to the region.
"Yorkshire is the largest catchment area within the UK which is not served by a transatlantic service," said Mr Hallwood.
"The USA is by far the most important long-haul destination for flights from the UK. It's vital that we capture this market for both our leisure and business passengers and deliver to the 500,000 passengers who fly transatlantic to and from our region."
The Project America campaign, launched in association with the British American Business Council, would allow a wide range of onward connections to cities throughout North America, including the west coast, Florida, Canada and the Caribbean.
Feedback from LBA business and leisure passengers shows that the US is the most requested unserved long-haul destination.
Speaking to representatives from Welcome to Yorkshire, Leeds, Bradford
and North Yorkshire Chambers, Leeds Financial and Yorkshire Forward, Mr Hallwood said there were currently 750 US companies, ranging from advanced engineering, energy, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, located in Yorkshire, and a transatlantic service would allow further growth and help secure new inward investment for the region.
Mr Hallwood said more than 400 new direct and indirect jobs could be created if daily New York flights were secured.
Coupled with an increase in visitor spend of up to £10m annually, Mr
Hallwood said a transatlantic link would support Leeds's 'core city' status and raise the profile of the region internationally.
"We are confident that we will be able to attract an American airline to offer a daily scheduled service to New York by the middle of the next decade," said Mr Hallwood.
And he urged people to register their support by emailing:
[email protected]