THREE airlines are increasing their operations at Leeds-Bradford Airport.

Eastern Airways has taken delivery of a second Embraer 145 regional aircraft, increasing the number of Embraer jets in its fleet to four.

The UK’s second largest regional airline operates a fleet of 30 aircraft consisting of a mix of jet and turbo-prop aircraft.

The second Embraer 145 aircraft to enter service with Eastern Airways complements the two similar looking 37-seater Embraer 135 jets, which the company reintroduced in June, 2010.

This latest addition to the fleet will be assigned mainly to the charter flying programme serving blue-chip companies, oil and gas organisations, corporations, sports teams, the music industry, delegations and individual groups flying across the UK, Western and Eastern Europe.

It follows the announcement that leisure airline Monarch is to launch new flights from Leeds Bradford International Airport this winter.

The airline will operate thrice-weekly services to Grenoble in France and Munich in Germany from December 12 to cover ski resorts in the French Alps, Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria. It also plans announce further services for summer 2013 to cover Mediterranean holiday resorts.

Meanwhile, Jet2.com has also unveiled a new service to Grenoble from Leeds Bradford – taking its total ski destinations from the airport to four. Jet2.com also offers flights to the popular resorts of Chambery, Geneva and Salzburg.