Press Association
Monday 15th March 2010
Airlines have axed more routes from London airports in the last few months than from any other European capital.
As many as 76 routes have been scrapped from London airports in the period from April 2008 to October 2009, figures from travel insurance company InsureandGo revealed.
It said the axed flights amounted to the loss of 646 flights a week and more than 95,000 seats a week.
The next worst capital city for axed flights during the same period was Copenhagen where 59 flights have been scrapped.
In contrast, airlines using Madrid have only axed 26 flights in the period April 2008 to October 2009.
InsureandGo said the recent increase in the UK's Air Passenger Duty (APD) airport departure tax would persuade fewer people to fly and would put pressure on airlines to cancel more routes.
The company's founder Perry Wilson added: "All British airports are being adversely affected by the financial difficulties facing the airline industry.
"A rise in APD is a deterrent against people flying, and this could result in more routes being cancelled by airlines and jobs being lost."