Blow for Birmingham Airport as major airline pulls out

AMERICAN Airlines is to pull out of Birmingham Airport, the airport has announced.

The airline will cease its daily service to New York’s JFK airport from January.

The airport has said efforts will now be made to find an alternate carrier for the route, which has been served by American since May last year.

The decision is a further blow to the airline’s global routes after the move earlier this year by Beijing Capital Airlines owner Caissa Touristic to withdraw a planned service to China.

A spokesperson from Birmingham Airport, said: “Birmingham Airport is disappointed by American Airlines’ decision to suspend its daily New York-Birmingham service from January 6, 2017.
 
“We appreciate that transatlantic air services are particularly competitive, however we are optimistic that another carrier will fill this gap shortly.

“There remains a strong demand from both the Midlands and North American market wanting to access these important regions and cities.”
 
The airport still has a New York service, with daily non-stop flights to Newark via United Airlines. There are also regular connections to North America available through other carriers, including Aer Lingus, Air France, KLM and Icelandair.
 
The airport said passengers booked on AA flights after January 6 would be contacted by the airline to make alternative arrangements or arrange a refund.
 
American Airlines began operations from Birmingham to New York on May 8, 2015.

 

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