Eastern Airways to withdraw from Island routes
EASTERN Airways has confirmed it will withdraw services from the Island from August 24.Last week, the airline announced it was closing its crew base in the Isle of Man – with the aim to re-deploy within the company the seven pilots and cabin crew affected.
It also said it was reviewing its schedules and timings with a view of having flights start out from the UK to the Island, instead of vice versa.
But the airline today (Wednesday) said it was withdrawing its Birmingham and Newcastle routes.
An Eastern Airways spokesman said: 'Following a review of Eastern Airways' Isle of Man routes a decision has now been taken to withdraw services from August 24.
'We took over the Birmingham route five years ago, introducing high frequency flights after British Airways CitiExpress withdrew its service. However, with the current tough economic trading conditions, demand for business travel on the Birmingham route has reduced dramatically. The frequency reduction we implemented last October also took this into account.
'Since then, the business market to Birmingham has diminished even further with no signs of recovery or improvement.
'This has significantly affected the viability of our flights and we're left with no alternative but to withdraw the service. As a result of this the Newcastle flights have also been withdrawn.
'The aircraft will be redeployed to develop routes where there is demand from energy and extractive industries both nationally and internationally.
Posted on 05 August 2009 at 12:44
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