Angoulême-London flights cancelled

THE LAUNCH of a new air link from Angoulême to London has been postponed at the last minute, with all summer flights on the route cancelled.

Cityline Swiss was due to start running three return flights a week from the Charente base to Gatwick from tomorrow afternoon.

It has announced that it will not be launching the new route until the autumn after airport authorities "did not reach an internal agreement".

All passengers who have booked summer flights on the Gatwick route will be fully refunded, the airline said.

Cityline Swiss announced in April that it would be restoring the Angoulême link to London after Ryanair pulled out in February in a row over funding.

The airline said in a statement that “uncertainties of regularity caused by the cloud of ash produced by the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjöll” had contributed to its decision to delay the London launch.

Cityline said: "Clients having already purchased their tickets will be fully refunded.

"We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience that this issue may cause and we hope to have you again on board of our airplanes."

Flights to Lyon have also been cancelled. The airline says its new Angoulême to Marseille route will operate as planned.

However an airport source said all CityLine flights out of Angoulême were cancelled for an indefinite period.

Local newspaper reports suggest that CityLine had asked for the Syndicat Mixte to underwrite its financial losses.

The body had offered to contribute €225,000 towards the costs of running the route but no more.