American Airlines to stop Birmingham Airport flights

American Airlines is pulling out of Birmingham Airport. The airline has operated a daily service to New York since May last year but will stop flights from 6 January. Birmingham Airport described the decision as "disappointing", and said it was down to passenger demand. "Passengers booked on AA flights after 6 January will be contacted by AA to make alternative arrangements or arrange a refund," the airport spokesman said. But they added that the airport was "optimistic that another carrier will fill this gap shortly". "There remains a strong demand from both the Midlands and North American market wanting to access these important regions and cities."<br/>The airport said passengers could still travel non-stop to New York Newark with United Airlines, and there continue to be regular connections to North America with several other carriers. A spokesman for American Airlines said: "As the world's largest airline, American constantly evaluates our network to ensure we are maximizing our fleet and profitability while matching customer demand. Many factors influence network planning decisions; route performance is monitored over time to ensure that American is better positioning itself for long-term success against global competition."<br/>