Latvia-based low-cost carrier Primera Air will cut all of its routes from Birmingham until at least the end of the year following a series of set-backs in starting up its UK operations.
The carrier debuted in the UK market in April with flights from Stansted to New York Newark and Boston Logan airports.
Last year, it announced intentions to start flights from Birmingham in May, but it soon had to drop long-haul destinations from the Midlands airport following a delay in deliveries of its A321neo fleet.
Now, it has take the decision to scrap all flights from Birmingham from 29 October.
In a statement, Primera Air said: “Primera Air is ceasing operations from Birmingham airport to Alicante, Tenerife, Las Palma, Reykjavik and Malaga due to capacity reduction.”
According to the Telegraph, the airline was also cut flights to Palma and Barcelona from 3 September, as well as its route between Stansted and Alicante. It will reduce capacity on its Stansted-Malaga service from October.
A spokesman for Birmingham airport said: “We regret that, for operational reasons, Primera Air is unable to continue flying from Birmingham Airport this winter. This is disappointing, especially as there is so much demand for these destinations.
“We are pressing the airline to provide refunds as quickly as possible to allow passengers to rebook with other carriers from Birmingham. We are very sorry for those people whose plans have been disrupted.”
Primera Air has said all passengers affected by the cancellations will be entitled to a full refund or alternative options and compensation under EU261 rules.
Some passengers are reporting on social media that they have been unable to contact anyone at the airline regarding a refund and compensation.
According to the Primera Air website, tickets on the Manchester-Malaga route are still bookable through the winter.
Details of when – or even if – the airline plans to resume services from Birmingham have not been released.