Curtain comes down on JFK flights at Birmingham Airport

AMERICAN Airlines formally suspends services from Birmingham Airport to New York JFK today.

The airline announced in September it would be pulling the plug on the prestigious route, with effect from January 6, 2017.

Despite efforts, no alternative carrier has stepped in to try and plug the gap. The airport still serves New York on a daily basis but passengers have to fly to Newark via United Airlines.

The transatlantic routes are very competitive so whether the service was a commercial success is uncertain.

However, after operating the route for 12 months it appears the airline carried out a review and decided it was no longer a viable option.

A spokesperson from Birmingham Airport, said: “Birmingham Airport is disappointed by American Airlines’ decision to withdraw its daily New York-Birmingham service from today but it reminds travellers that a daily non-stop New York Newark service continues to serve Birmingham with United Airlines, and regular connections to North America are also available with several other carriers, including Aer Lingus, Air France, KLM and Iceland Air.”

While the service does not leave a big hole in the airport’s business, it is more a blow to its pride than anything else.

What made last September’s decision even more unpalatable was it came just months after the decision by Beijing Capital Airlines owner Caissa Touristic to withdraw a planned service to China.

Two such blows to the airport’s global ambitions were difficult to absorb. But the airport has bounced back with a series of record-breaking passenger months and its latest accolade has seen it appointed the world’s most punctual airport.

Any passengers which had been booked on American Airlines flights after today should have been contacted by the airline to make alternative arrangements or arrange a refund.