I read the Evening Press report headlined 'Direct flights to Big Apple' (July 29) about the possible York/New York link via Leeds Bradford Airport.

In it Len Cruddas, chief executive of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, is quoted as saying: "If you want to get to New York from York now you have to get on a train which rattles to Manchester in a journey that takes almost as long as it does to get to London."

I am sure that direct flights from Leeds-Bradford International Airport to New York would be good news for the region and I'm equally pleased to say the £250 million being invested in new 100mph trains for First TransPennine Express will transform the quality of direct rail service to Manchester Airport from next year.

Manchester Airport is incredibly popular with travellers from North Yorkshire for business and leisure. It is our fastest growing destination with an impressive 29 per cent growth in patronage in our first year of operation.

In fact, more rail journeys to Manchester Airport originate from York Station than any other station on our network.

Manchester Airport is the UK's largest regional airport with more than 100 airlines serving 200 destinations attracting passengers who travel by train from as far afield as Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Northallerton and Thirsk. One million passengers travelled with us to the airport in the last year.

We run a direct service from York to Manchester Airport every half hour. The journey typically takes a shade under two hours to reach the airport station, which is part of the transport interchange and now includes airline check-in desks, just a short walk from the station platforms.

It's fair to say the trains we are using while our new fleet is under construction have been well used and are ready to be replaced. We are determined to revitalise the service with new trains, a frequent timetable and excellent customer service to provide the sort of quality I hope the chamber will be able to support and help us promote.

David Mallender,

PR Manager,

First TransPennine Express,

Tanner Row, York.

Updated: 10:27 Monday, August 15, 2005