Irish airline Aer Lingus has confirmed it is to drop the Belfast/Shannon leg of its New York service from Belfast International Airport.

In a statement on Friday evening, the airline said the move was part of a cost cutting programme following the terrorist attacks in America.

A spokesman for the company said: "The schedule changes have been implemented as part of the airline's plan in response to the dramatic fall-off in demand being experienced in the wake of the recent tragic events in the USA".

It is believed that last-minute lobbying took place in an attempt to get the airline to change its mind.

Aer Lingus, the state airline of the Irish Republic, last week announced a 25% cut in its transatlantic services because of the fall-off in demand.

The announcement is the latest financial blow for Belfast International Airport.

Negotiations

On Thursday, British Airways announced that it was withdrawing its Belfast - Heathrow service, with the loss of 160 jobs.

BA said it was cutting the route as part of a global schedule cut-down after the US terror attacks and because the route had lost �38m in four years.

The move will come into effect on 27 October, leaving no service to Heathrow from Belfast International.

South Antrim Ulster Unionist assembly member Jim Wilson said the situation at the airport was now very worrying.

And he called on the economy minister Sir Reg Empey to enter into negotiations with BA about the move.

British Midland, the only other company that operates between Northern Ireland and Heathrow is moving from the international to Belfast City Airport.

But that will see an end to the late flight from Heathrow because of night-time restrictions at the city airport.

This has created fears that the economy will be damaged because of limited business travel.

Phone

Low-cost airline Ryanair revealed on Friday that it was in talks with Belfast International owners TBI about a potential service from the airport.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said it was up to TBI to come up with a good deal.

"British Airways has previously threatened to pull out of Belfast International Airport if a deal was done with Ryanair because they didn't want low-fare competition.

"Now the way is open for TBI but they've got to pick up the phone," Mr O'Leary said.

Belfast International's management have said they intend to talk to all carriers who might develop business at the airport.

Low-cost carriers Go and Easyjet also fly to a number of UK airports from Belfast International, including Stansted and Luton.