Virgin Atlantic has axed its Little Red flights between Aberdeen and London Heathrow just 18 months after they took off.
The service will end next September, the Sir Richard Branson-owned carrier said yesterday.
It will come as no surprise to many readers of the Press and Journal, which warned last month that the Aberdeen flights and Little Red services from Heathrow to Edinburgh and Manchester were at risk due to poor passenger numbers.
The decision also reignites fears that Aberdeen will be left with a greatly reduced choice of connections to the UK’s main aviation hub.
Gordon MP Sir Malcolm Bruce said: “I will be seeking a meeting with Virgin, with whom I engaged to win Aberdeen routes, to discuss issues they have raised that might affect potential for attracting other operators.
“I will also be writing to the aviation minister to seek clarification on the future of the (Heathrow) slots that Little Red has used. Clearly, it would be helpful if these could be held open for any alternative operator.”
North-east Labour MSP Lewis Macdonald said travellers would be disappointed that their options for travelling to London and onward to other destinations had been cut as a direct result of Virgin’s failure to capture a larger share of the market.
Aberdeen Donside SNP MSP Mark McDonald will meet Virgin representatives at Holyrood today to discuss the announcement and its implications.
Mr McDonald said: “There will be an impact for those who are employed by Virgin Atlantic locally, and I will be raising this with the company when I meet with them in parliament.
“I will also be asking them whether this decision will be kept under review as there is the potential that an increase in business over the intervening period may require the decision to be revisited.”
Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce said the decision was “dispiriting” as it reduced choice for business travellers and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry called it “a blow to Scotland’s connectivity”
Steve Harris, chief executive of tourism body VisitAberdeen, said: “I’m very disappointed about the news on a number of levels.
“It’s important to that remember though that we retain many routes into London via London City, Heathrow, Gatwick and Luton.”
Development body Aberdeen City and Shire Economic Future pledged to “lobby where necessary” to make sure air links continued to support the north-east economy.
Little Red’s Manchester flights will stop at the end of Match, with Aberdeen and Edinburgh services continuing through the summer.
Virgin Atlantic Chief Executive Craig Kreeger admitted the flights were did not win over enough customers, adding: “Little Red came about through an enduring passion at Virgin Atlantic to make a difference for our customers.
“We really wanted it to be a success and everyone involved worked extremely hard and has given it their best efforts.”