Flights from Leeds Bradford Airport to London were launched again this week after the region had been left without its crucual link to the capital.

The airline Flybe stepped in with flights to Gatwick following BMI’s decision in March to axe its service from Leeds Bradford to London Heathrow.

The resumption of flights to London was celebrated with champagne when Emmerdale actor Mathew Bose presented souvenir magnums of champagne to the first passengers.

Matthew also presented a bottle of champagne to Flybe's first passenger with onward connection to Jersey, Margaret Smith, of Burley-inWharfedale, who was flying to Gatwick and then on to Jersey on business.

Flybe’s chief commercial officer, Mike Rutter, said: “We are delighted to be starting our service from Leeds Bradford to London Gatwick today and to welcome the first passengers on board. Our ticket sales have exceeded initial forecasts and I’m delighted to report strong demand on this key route that is of great strategic importance and which we know is vital for both business and leisure passengers both out of, and into the region.”

Tony Hallwood, commercial director at LBIA, said: “We are naturally delighted that Flybe has stepped in with this new service. As part of our Get Business Moving campaign – which aims to assist companies in the region who commute regularly to London with a cost-effective and speedy access to the capital – we are offering Flybe passengers free fast track though airport security during June, July and August to make the commute even easier.”

Flybe stepped in to fill the gap in the market after the shock announcement from BMI, which was described as a devastating blow for the area.

At a launch to unveil details of the new service earlier this year Yorkshire and Humber minister Rosie Winterton said: “Regular and dependable flights between Leeds Bradford and London are very important for our region’s economy. I warmly welcome the launch of Flybe’s new service to this region, which I know will be extremely well received, particularly by the business community."

The service will operate three times a day to Gatwick, providing the only scheduled flights from Yorkshire and Humber to London.

Tom Riordan, chief executive of Yorkshire Forward, said: “We welcome the plans for flights to Gatwick from Leeds Bradford Airport and see this as an important step in building further links not just with the capital but also with the international business community.

“We believe this to be an opportunity for Yorkshire and Humber to attract further international inward investment and create additional links for our region's business network.”

When it axed the service, bmi said a decline in overall demand and higher-than-inflation cost increases at Heathrow meant the routes from Leeds Bradford had become unsustainable and there were no signs of the trend being reversed.