Belfast loses its only regular US flight
Northern Ireland is to lose its only regular flight to the US as United Airlines revealed it is axing its Belfast to New York service.
The carrier is to drop the flights just months after a £9 million rescue deal, said the BBC.
Belfast International Airport claimed United was pulling out because the European Commission had blocked the funding as state-aid to airlines is outlawed within the EU.
Airport MD Graham Keddie tweeted that he was ‘absolutely spitting’ about the decision, blaming it on ‘useless, faceless EU bureaucrats’.
"We have worked tirelessly to safeguard the service, but Brussels took a different view, believing the support package gave United an unfair advantage over services from elsewhere," he said.
"The EU decision-making process is abysmal, biased and unfair and has resulted in the loss of this service."
However, United said it had taken the decision to axe the route due to its poor financial performance. The last flight from Belfast will be on January 9.
It said customers with booking for later flights will be contacted and offered refunds and re-accommodation where possible.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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