Cardiff Airport flights scrapped by Germanwings

It was hoped the airline would boost tourism from Germany

A German airline is ending its flights between Cardiff and Dusseldorf.

Germanwings told BBC Wales the summer service would not return in 2015 as the route "did not meet our expectations".

The airline is owned by Lufthansa - Europe's largest operator - and launched the route in 2013.

Cardiff Airport said it was in discussions with a number of airlines including Germanwings about developing routes between Wales and Germany, including Dusseldorf.

Talks ongoing

Spencer Birns, the airport's aviation and business development director, said: "The Dusseldorf-Cardiff route has operated successfully over the past two years as a summer-only service focused on bringing German visitors to Wales.

"The reports circulating today regarding the service for next year are misleading as we are in discussions with a number of airlines - including Germanwings - regarding continuing the development of services linking Wales to Germany for 2015 and beyond, which includes the Dusseldorf route.

"This is in line with good commercial practice."

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said it was "extremely worrying news" for the airport after the loss of flights to Glasgow.

The Welsh government has been asked to comment.