Flybe cancels Bournemouth to Manchester route

Bournemouth Airport recently opened a new £45m terminal

Flybe has cancelled its Bournemouth to Manchester route for the winter period.

It is the third airline to suspend winter flights at Bournemouth after announcements from Ryanair and Palmair.

Flybe said it will stop the route from 29 October but will keep it under review and has not ruled out reinstating it in the future.

Bournemouth Airport, which opened a new £45m terminal in June, said it was in talks with other operators to take on the route.

In a statement the airport added: "We are sorry, but not surprised, to hear that Flybe won't be continuing the Manchester route this winter.

"Our research proves that there is significant demand from business travellers in this region for a Bournemouth to Manchester route.

"These passengers need a service that will allow them to travel there and back in a day but, unfortunately, the timing of the Flybe operation with a single flight in the middle of the day wasn't able to serve this demand.

"Looking to the future, we are talking to other carriers regarding a more appropriate service that will meet the requirements of the business traveller."