Leeds-Bradford Airport bosses say they are bucking the national trend as more flights are announced.

Budget airline Ryanair yesterday unveiled two new services to Spain from the Yeadon airport – only days after it cut back its winter schedule to Dublin.

Ryanair said the additional flights to Alicante and Girona-Barcelona are expected to bring an extra 100,000 people through the airport – counteracting the impact of its reduced Dublin services.

The news comes as the airport’s ambitious plans to invest £50 million into redevelopment plans over the next five years continue to roll on.

Tony Hallwood, the airport’s commercial and aviation development director, said despite the economic downturn Leeds-Bradford Airport was one of the few airports continuing to grow this summer. He said: “Around the UK at the moment there are a lot of airports and airlines that are withdrawing services. But here we have Europe’s largest low-fares airline investing in Leeds-Bradford which is fantastic news.

“We are bucking the trend. It comes from the fact we have a very strong region with a strong economy despite the credit crunch and we have a demand from passengers who until recently had to travel across the Pennines to Manchester.

“We hope to be able to provide services to keep the legion of customers we have.”

Ryanair will fly to Alicante three times weekly from October 28, while the flights to Barcelona will operate four times weekly from October 1.

Airline spokesman Bridget Dowling said the routes should make up for the loss in passengers travelling to Dublin this winter.

She said: “The routes to Spain will counteract the reduction to Dublin.

“These two new routes together are going to carry an additional 100,000 passengers per annum, with Alicante producing 40,000 and Girona producing 60,000.

“We would also expect to have at least 50 per cent in-bound traffic.”

Mr Hallwood said the airport’s strategy was to extend its route network as part of its redevelopment plans.

He said: “The re-development is going very well indeed. The new managing team have been looking at what we have to do in terms of terminal development and attracting airlines to grow their route network.

“We are pleased that Ryanair can see the significant market and commercial opportunity of Leeds-Bradford Airport.”

Leeds Bradford-based rival low-fares airline Jet2.com also has regular flights to Alicante and to the main Barcelona airport.

No-one at the company was available for comment about the Ryanair announcement.