Direct flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to Heathrow four times a day, will begin in December, it has been announced.

Some flights will cost just £42, according to bosses at the airport and British Airways, who will be running the new service which could boost the region’s economy by more than £10 million.

Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) has been without flights to the capital since early last year when journeys to Gatwick ended, and without a link to Heathrow since March 2009.

John Parkin, chief executive at LBA, said more than two years of discussion had finally borne fruit.

“This important new service to Heathrow connects Yorkshire with the world,” he said. “It provides our businesses with the access they need to emerging and established global markets and enables those markets to easily come to Yorkshire, bringing their investment and inbound tourism direct into our region.”

Andy Lord, BA director of operations, said the deal would boost businesses and tourism in the region.

“LBA has a significant catchment area and we are delighted to offer not only direct flights to London, but a well-timed schedule that will allow customers from this region to connect with our extensive short haul and long haul flights from Heathrow,” he said.

Stephen Wright, president of Bradford Chamber of Commerce, said the new deal was “excellent news”. “We have a higher than average percentage of manufacturers in West Yorkshire and for many of them export markets are key,” he said.

“This isn’t just about an alternative way of reaching London, but about connecting our companies with the rest of the world.”