HOLIDAYMAKERS who booked flights from Southend Airport to the island of Corsica this summer are bitterly disappointed after the route was cancelled.

The route to the French city of Figari on the island was one of 12 new routes which were announced just before Christmas.

Flights went on sale on December 22 and were touted as “the only scheduled direct London airport route to Figari” due to start on May 19.

But now airline Stobart Air, a franchisee with operator Flybe, has announced its route will no longer be running due to “operational reasons”.

Jeremy Pilgrim, 63, from Canvey Road, Leigh, was due to fly to the island for a summer holiday on May 30 with his wife Ann, 60, and a friend.

The cancellation of the route has thrown their plans into jeopardy. Chartered surveyor Mr Pilgrim said: “I booked the flights about two months ago and were were really looking forward to it as it is a beautiful island.

“They were about £100 each return and were the only direct route so were really convenient.

“There isn’t long to go until our holiday now but they have just cancelled the new route.

“It is always said that Southend Airport and Flybe are really convenient and easy to use but they should not have advertised or sold the seats if there was a chance they would not run. We are really frustrated and I’m sure we are not the only ones.”

The change of route may mean Mr Pilgrim has to cancel his plans and might lose the deposit on the Air B&B accommodation he has booked.

He said: “It’s really not easy to get there now; we are really angry as the flight had been the ideal flight time and now there are not even any direct flights from near home.

“We are now looking at possibly having to fly to Paris from a different airport and change - but might even have to change twice in which case I don’t think we will go. It’s a real shame, it has really messed up our plans.”

A spokesman for the airport, Flybe and Stobart Air said: “Stobart Air confirms that due to operational reasons it will not now be introducing its Southend to Figari route as part of the summer 2017 schedule.

“All passengers booked to travel will be re-accommodated on an alternate flight with another carrier or offered a full refund.

“The airline, a franchise partner of Flybe, sincerely apologises for any inconvenience experienced as a result of this decision.”