BUDGET airline Ryanair will cease operations from Bournemouth Airport for three months this winter.

The carrier is to temporarily suspend Bournemouth flights during November, December and January, blaming the government’s air passenger duty tax for their decision.

The company insists the decision to move to a seasonal nine-month base operation is not a long-term decision.

It says following a review of its operations next summer, it may return to a full 12-month base operation at the airport.

Airport bosses called the news ‘disappointing'.

The announcement follows weeks of uncertainty about winter schedules with passengers unable to book flights from Bournemouth beyond October 31.

Until now, the airline would only say it did not comment on rumour or speculation but yesterday, it confirmed its plans for the next few months.