Businesses must use transatlantic flights or risk more of them being scrapped

BUSINESS chiefs in Greater Birmingham have urged firms in the region to continue using services from Birmingham Airport so that the hub does not lose any more flights.

The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce said it was disappointed with the decision by American Airlines to pull out of the regular service to New York from January.

Chamber chief executive Paul Faulkner said the service had been invaluable not just for businesses, but for the travelling public in general.

“It will be missed,” he said. “We do understand that transatlantic air services are particularly competitive and terrorism activities in Europe and the strength of the pound against the dollar have deterred Americans from travelling.

“It does underline how fragile some of the amenities we enjoy in the Greater Birmingham region can be. And it is incumbent on us to use them – if we don’t, we will lose them.

“This news goes to demonstrate very clearly that if we want such routes to fly from Birmingham, then passengers – both business travellers and those taking holiday flights – need to make sure that they use them and support the local economy, rather than flying from other airports around the country.”

He said he was hopeful that the airport could find a replacement carrier for the route, especially if – as the airport claimed – there was a strong demand for the route.

The airport, while disappointed itself by the decision, said it still offered a daily non-stop New York flight but to Newark via United Airlines.

It has also stressed that there are regular connections to North America available with several other carriers, including Aer Lingus, Air France, KLM and Icelandair.

The JFK service will end on January 6, 2017.