LARGER aircraft are being brought in as one of the key routes from Southampton Airport continues to grow.

Eastern Airways has almost doubled seat capacity on its busy Southampton to Leeds Bradford route by introducing larger aircraft and increasing frequency.

This latest announcement follows the news last month that Eastern Airways had increased services on the route service from three to four flights each weekday in both directions.

A larger 50-seat Saab 2000 aircraft will operate services with an additional 3,700 seats per month available on the route from Monday 2 November 2015. The change of aircraft will also result in improvements to the schedule.

Weekday flights will leave Southampton at 8.25am, 11.30am, 4.15pm and 7.25pm, arriving in Leeds Bradford at 9.30am, 12.35pm, 5.20pm and 8.30pm. Flights from Leeds Bradford will depart at 6.50am, 10am, 2.30pm and 5.50pm, landing in Southampton at 7.55am, 11.05am, 3.35pm and 6.55pm. Sunday services will leave Southampton at 6.45pm and Leeds Bradford at 4.50pm.

Kay Ryan, Eastern Airways’ commercial director, said: “By increasing capacity and recently upping the frequency of services due to the popularity of this important route, this demonstrates our firm commitment to both regions.

"We’re providing greater choice with more seats, a business-focused schedule with improved adjustments to timings to meet increased demand from business travellers commuting between these two vibrant business centres.”

Jan Halliday, Southampton Airport’s marketing & communications director, said: “We are delighted that Eastern Airways are increasing capacity on this popular and well established air link between Southampton and Leeds.

"This route is used frequently by business people and those visiting friends and relatives, as an easy and quick way of travelling between Hampshire and Yorkshire”.