Major blow for Birmingham Airport as second airline axes New York services

United Airlines

Birmingham Airport has suffered a major blow to its prestige after a second US airline announced it was pulling plug on its New York operations out of the airport.

United Airlines’ decision to axe its service to Newark comes just six months after American Airlines ended its services to New York JFK.

The decision means the airport will now be without a direct New York service from October, although it is hopeful a new announcement on North American services will be made shortly.

United said the service was simply not making enough money and with the transatlantic route being one of the most competitive in the travel sector, airlines have to make decisions based on economics rather than simply supplying a service.

It will also mean United is free to focus on its more profitable services out of London and Manchester.

The airline, which originally introduced the Newark service 20 years ago, has begun consultations with its staff at Birmingham Airport.

The flights amount to a tiny proportion of the airport’s overall volumes so the financial impact won’t be great.

However, the loss of prestige so soon after the withdrawal of the American Airlines service is huge and places a question mark over the way the Us views not just Birmingham Airport, but the wider West Midlands as well.

Business leaders in the region have said they are disappointed with the decision – and its potential implications for the Midlands Engine.

However, they accepted that unless people – especially the business community – backed such services then there was an inevitable consequence that the flights would be withdrawn.

A spokesperson from Birmingham Airport, said: “Birmingham Airport is disappointed by United Airlines’ decision to withdraw its daily Birmingham-New York service from October 5.

“Passengers traveling to North America can continue to fly one-stop with a number of airlines including Icelandair, Lufthansa, KLM and Air France, as well as Aer Lingus via Dublin, which has the added advantage of clearing US customs in Dublin.

“We expect to be making an announcement shortly regarding another airline serving North America non-stop from Birmingham, giving passengers additional choice.”

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