The airline British European has announced they are axing scheduled flights to London Stansted from Belfast City airport.

The airline’s four daily flights to Belfast, operated by Bombardier CRJ aircraft, will cease on 3 September.

British European Managing Director Jim French said on Thursday: “The decision to cease our services from London Stansted is part of an ongoing major review of our entire network, instigated to cut costs and tailor capacity to meet demand.

“We are phasing out the four CRJs and with Belfast City our sole scheduled destination from London Stansted, it makes sound business sense to concentrate our London-Belfast City activity from London City and London Gatwick.”

As a result the airline has added a fourth frequency on its London City to Belfast City service, which will become effective 3 September.

It is thought the company is concentrating its efforts on London City and Gatwick because of the damage imposed by cheap flights offered by Go from Stansted.

British European also flies to Belfast City directly from Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds Bradford and the Isle of Man. Speculation in the airline industry suggests that these routes may be under threat and that as part of a cost-cutting exercise, outlined by MD Jim French above, some job losses may be in the pipeline.

The airline employs more than 100 people in Belfast but it is not yet known if any of these jobs will be at risk. (AMcE)