Leeds-Bradford Airport has been dealt a major blow in its bid to get direct flights to Pakistan.

Pakistan International Airways has rejected calls to introduce the service. It operates direct flights from Manchester and says an extra service from Leeds-Bradford would not be viable.

The British government backs Leeds -Bradford's bid to get direct flights, which also won the support of Khalid Raja, minister for human rights in the Pakistan government.

Asian business and community leader Fazal Hussain is in Pakistan for a last-ditch attempt to persuade the company, to change its mind.

The decision comes as Leeds-Bradford booms, with passenger numbers up 8.4 per cent in June, compared with the same period last year.

A total of 155,000 travellers a month used the airport - the equivalent of more than 50per cent of the crowd capacity of Wembley Stadium in its hey day.

Bradford Labour councillor Tony Cairns, chairman of the airport committee, said it would now look for another operator.

He added: "It is a shame and we have been trying to get this for some years. We believe this is a service which would have been full and of great benefit to Bradford and West Yorkshire.

"We may see if we can do something by going somewhere en route like Dubai. But we are not giving up on this."

Rashid Awan, of Bradford Asian Business Association, and the Pakistan Society of the West Yorkshire Community and Neighbourhood Association said today: "I think they should look at this decision again.

"Leeds-Bradford is going to be a very convenient airport. This service would create a lot of jobs and a lot of facilities. We will not give up."

Bradford North MP Terry Rooney and Marsha Singh, MP for Bradford West, vowed to continue backing the campaign. Mr Singh said it would be used by people from as far away as Scotland.

"This is very disappointing for everyone concerned. I am sure there would have been no shortage of passengers and the flights from Manchester are over-subscribed. I hope they will think very carefully about their decision."

Khadim Hussain, spokesman for Bradford Council of Mosques, said it was vital for the campaign to continue because of the large number of people who now had to travel to Manchester Airport to get the flights. He believed it was a hasty decision and the firm should consider doing a trial at Leeds-Bradford.

A PIA spokesman said: "We give a very comprehensive service from Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham. But we look at this all the time.