Five routes suspended by airline

[Rockville]

Low-budget airline bmibaby is suspending five of its summer services from Birmingham International Aiport.

The routes affected are to Rome, Milan, Lisbon, Madrid and Bordeaux, with the flights to be put on hold between 29 March to 24 October.

A spokesman said the move was in response to a lack of demand, with travellers cutting down on city breaks.

The suspension of the flights could lead to 65 jobs losses in Birmingham, as well as five in the East Midlands.

A spokesman for the airline said it was starting a 30-day consultation period to minimise the impact of potential compulsory job losses.

'Weakening demand'

Customers already holding bookings for the suspended routes will be contacted by bmibaby and offered a full refund or a transfer to another destination.

A bmibaby spokesman said the routes were being suspended in response to a weakening of consumer demand.

"Travellers are now booking to fly to typical sun destinations for their annual holiday, rather than flying to the more impulsive short-break city destinations," he said.

Mediterranean routes from Birmingham were performing well, he added.

Story from BBC NEWS:
Published: 2008/11/26 17:21:01 GMT