Low-cost airlines flybe. and Air Southwest have both announced major new plans for services to English destinations from Leeds-Bradford International Airport.

Flybe. will put 280,000 seats on the market at Leeds-Bradford as it launches a raft of new routes early in 2005, emphasising its commitment to offering cheap fares to regional airports in the heart of key business and leisure destinations.

Flybe. will offer new daily services from Leeds-Bradford Airport to both Exeter and Southampton.

In addition to the current routes flying to Belfast, the new services will travel to Southampton daily from May 12, 2005 and Exeter daily from June 16, 2005. Prices to Southampton and Exeter start from £19 each and tickets are on sale today at www.flybe.com.

Flybe. expressed confidence in growth from Leeds-Bradford by stating potential interest in offering passengers flights to some of the French regional airports including Bordeaux and Bergerac by summer 2006.

The move follows flybe.'s recent half-year results announcement of a record £14 million profit, in addition to a 24 per cent overall growth in passenger traffic and a 34 per cent overall increase in passenger revenue.

The launch of the new routes out of Leeds-Bradford are part of flybe.'s extensive summer schedule for 2005, which forms part of the airline's overall strategy of continued investment and expansion of both its domestic and international route network.

Mike Rutter, sales and marketing director at flybe., said: ''We have big plans in Leeds and Bradford. While many of our competitors are route cutting and retrenching back to London, flybe. is expanding in the regions and is committed to bringing flights to your door.

"Opening up the routes to Exeter and Southampton have always been a priority for us, and we are delighted to announce our plans. With Leeds and Bradford now fully integrated into flybe.'s European network, we're going to be looking at adding more routes and more capacity over time.

"Leeds and Bradford has a successful and exciting economy, which will benefit greatly from the increased business, inward investment and tourism traffic that will be delivered by these new routes. Flybe. is proud to link its route network to such a vibrant area."

He concluded: "Flybe. would like to thank Leeds-Bradford Airport for creating a positive framework for this exciting route to be launched. Airports are catalysts for economic growth for regions and we are pleased to pay tribute to LBA for recognising and encouraging that role."

Ed Anderson, managing director of Leeds-Bradford Airport, said: "This development is a fantastic boost for the region and is a crucial stepping stone in further establishing the Leeds and Bradford area as a major economic force in the UK.

"With flybe.'s invaluable support, LBIA will be striving to continue to play its part in attracting further investment into Yorkshire as a whole."

Air Southwest is launching new services from Leeds-Bradford Airport to Bristol, Newquay and Plymouth with fares starting from just £19 one-way, including taxes and charges.

The new flights will start on April 11 next year.

Fares from Leeds to Bristol will start from just £19 and to Plymouth and Newquay from just £29 one-way.

Tickets are on sale now through Air Southwest's website, www.airsouthwest.com.

Passengers can also book car hire, accommodation and travel insurance through the website, and explore what the South West has to offer through a range of useful links.

Malcolm Naylor, managing director of Air Southwest, said: "We believe customers in the North will find our new fares and destinations very attractive and our instant online booking system allows them to check availability and buy their tickets in seconds.

"We're confident this new route will be a great success with business and leisure travellers alike."

Ed Anderson, managing director of Leeds-Bradford Airport, said: "We are delighted to welcome our new business partner Air Southwest to Leeds Bradford, improving links for the people of Yorkshire to the South West of England.

These flights will prove popular for both the business and leisure passengers and we're sure this will be the start of an excellent working relationship."