A SUMMER programme of flights from Bournemouth Airport to the Greek island Skiathos have been pulled - just two months after it was announced.

In March the flight operator Loloflights announced plans to operate weekly flights to Skiathos, where many scenes from film Mamma Mia were shot.

The flights were due to operate every Friday between July 22 to September 23.

Unfortunately two months before the first plane was due to take off the company has cancelled all the flights for the summer programme leaving dozens of holidaymakers disappointed.

Did you book a flight with Loloflights from Bournemouth? Email newsdesk@dorsetecho.co.uk or call 01305 830999.

Stephen Murray, who lives in Parkstone, booked flights for himself and his girlfriend to the Greek island after spotting the story in the Echo.

"I thought it sounded brilliant and having flights available from Bournemouth meant we didn't have to travel to London or Bristol first before we even got on a plane," he said.

"But then on Tuesday I got a call from the travel agent to say all the flights from Bournemouth to Skiathos had been cancelled because take up wasn't sufficient enough.

"I've been told they are going to try and find us a flight from another airport but the whole point of booking with this airline is because we wanted the convenience of flying from Bournemouth.

"Sadly once again we are losing out from Bournemouth Airport."

This is the most recent in a series of blows for the airport.

Last year, Flybe pulled out of the airport, just six months after relaunching flights, and Royal Mail revealed they would be pulling their business after 30 years.

Paul Knight, managing director of Bournemouth Airport said: "We are, of course, disappointed to hear that the short programme of weekly flights to Skiathos this summer has been cancelled.

"We understand there were various operational reasons for this decision and look forward to the possibility of these flights returning next year.

"In the meantime the airport is enjoying steady growth at present - with a good choice of new fly cruises to the Mediterranean this summer and Ryanair's recent announcement that they will be doubling the number of winter flights and offering a new route to Krakow."

According to Loloflights owner Paul Dendle the airline has cancelled all flights for the 2016 summer season - not just from Bournemouth Airport.

The company was working in partnership with Air X, a luxury private jet operator, but on Monday the operator pulled out of the deal after it decided “The model is right, but in hindsight the timing was wrong," said Mr Dendle.

“When we planned the launch, the date of the Brexit referendum hadn’t been announced, the Brussels terrorist attacks hadn’t happened, and the economic chill winds from China hadn’t started blowing in.

"But we believe in Bournemouth as an airport and have every intention of launching a new programme of flights as soon as we find a new airline partner."

Speaking to the Echo Mr Dendle said all customers booked on a Loloflight would receive a refund sales were financially protected through a trust fund. The refund process is expected to take 10 days.

He also confirmed efforts were being made by travel agents to book customers on alternative flights from Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham.