TEN pounds. That will be the cost of a ticket to ride on a new express bus from York to Leeds Bradford Airport.

Bus operator First today revealed details of its hourly, non-stop coach service, which will be launched on Monday, February 26.

Commercial director Peter Edwards said that passengers booking online would pay £10 for a single ticket and £15 for a return, with accompanying children aged up to 16 travelling free.

But he revealed that such tickets would also cover the cost of a local First bus service to get passengers from their home to the airport bus stop near York Railway Station.

He said the fare was a highly competitive rate. "It will mean a big saving in comparison with the cost of parking a car for a week at the airport." A week's parking at the airport costs £40.

Mr Edwards said that First would encourage people to book online, as this would give the company a better idea of the anticipated numbers wanting to travel on any particular day as well as reduce boarding times.

However, passengers could pay on the bus if they preferred, at a cost of £12 single and £17 return, but without the benefit of free bus travel to the airport bus stop.

He stressed that as well as major benefits for York people wanting to get to the airport, the new service would also mean a big boost for the city's tourism economy, as travellers arriving at Leeds would be able, for the first time, to get on a bus and travel direct to York.

Until now, the quickest way to get to the airport from York and vice versa has been by taxi, at a cost of about £60 return.

Otherwise travellers have to journey by train from York to Leeds and then pick up a half- hourly service to the airport stopping at all bus stops via Otley, potentially taking more than an hour and a half, depending on link times.

The new route, which is being set up by First in conjunction with Leeds Bradford Airport, City of York Council, Yorkshire Forward and low-cost flight operator Jet2, will take about 55 minutes, traffic permitting. Coaches by First will be equipped with luggage space and staff to help with baggage.

Plans for the new airport service were exclusively revealed by The Press in November. York tourism boss Gillian Cruddas then hailed it as "one of the most exciting pieces of news we have had for years," claiming it had the potential to bring millions of pounds into the city through extra tourism and conference business.