NEW hopes were expressed today that a direct coach link between York and Leeds Bradford International Airport will be re-established.

It comes as Ryanair launches its Leeds Bradford winter schedule, which will operate on two aircraft with 13 routes.

Included in them will be new routes to and from Barcelona, Dusseldorf, Gdansk and Fuerteventura.

The new routes hold out the prospect of yet more European visitors heading for York.

And Tony Hallwood, commercial director at the airport, said the new destinations lent more force to discussions that were taking place between Visit York and Welcome To Yorkshire to re-establish the link run by The First Group, but scrapped in 2008.

He said: “We are continuing to talk with Gillian Cruddas, chief executive of Visit York and Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome To Yorkshire and to discuss the opportunities of recommencing the service in spring 2011.”

In terms of value for money there has never been a better time for Europeans to visit the UK because of the exchange rate which favours them.

Mrs Cruddas said: “The addition of these new routes is evidence of York and Yorkshire’s growing popularity in Europe. “By working together with Welcome To Yorkshire on dedicated marketing and PR campaigns, our message is generating an even stronger visitor demand. We’re also working closely with Leeds Bradford Airport on new discussions to bring back a direct transport link to York and we hope to see this initiative back on track.”

The 13 Ryanair routes compare with only three it operated out of Leeds Bradford last winter, making the Yorkshire airport the only one in the country to have grown its winter schedule.

Ryanair’s summer schedule and guaranteed lowest fares on 21 summer routes will continue until the end of October.

The expanding winter schedule should see Ryanair’s traffic at Leeds Bradford grow to one million passengers, directly sustaining up to 1,000 jobs in Yorkshire and indirectly generating more as a knock-on effect in hotels and bed and breakfast establishments.

The Irish airline is celebrating the new winter schedule by releasing 500,000 £9 seats for travel across its European network in September and October.

They are available for booking on ryanair.com until midnight this Thursday.