THE end of flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to London will “penalise North Yorkshire businesses”.

That is the claim from York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, following news there will be no flights from the end of this month.

Budget airline Flybe, which carried 50,000 passengers between Leeds Bradford and Gatwick per year, is pulling out of the route.

It blamed increased landing fees for regional airlines at Gatwick, and accused the airport of trying to limit the number of smaller and regional aircraft landing there.

Susie Cawood, the chamber’s boss, said: “It is very disappointing the increase in landing fees have essentially penalised North Yorkshire businesses.

“We are all aware that Leeds Bradford is the hub not just for passengers here, making connections from London to abroad, but also for tourism and inward investment.”

She said the chamber would lobby Gatwick to reduce its landing fees “because we don’t want the same thing happening to Flybe’s successor”.

A Gatwick Airport spokeswoman said: “In setting the airport charges at Gatwick for the next year, we have only increased the aircraft landing fees during the busy summer period, when travel demand is at its highest and capacity at the airport at its most restricted.

“We have removed landing fees at Gatwick during the quieter winter period to encourage greater all year round use.

“Gatwick continues to charge lower landing fees for smaller, quieter, less polluting aircraft, such as used on regional services. “We are disappointed by Flybe’s business decision to remove the Leeds Bradford to Gatwick service, particularly given domestic travel from Gatwick remains competitively priced.”