A TRAVEL firm has axed all its summer holiday flights from Southampton in a move which has hit 2,000 passengers.

FlyLolo says it has let families down by scrapping plans to launch services to seven new destinations in Europe, including Greece, Spain and Bulgaria.

A total of 140 flights to and from Southampton have been cancelled, throwing passengers’ holiday plans into chaos.

Customers across the south have been promised refunds within ten working days but are having to make alternative travel plans.

FlyLolo, a flight operator with no aircraft of its own, is blaming continued uncertainty over Brexit for its decision to pull the plug on its summer schedule.

It was planning to use an Airbus A319 supplied by an European operator, which has not been named.

In a letter to customers chief executive Paul Dendle says: “The aircraft owner did not want to finalise our agreement while the Brexit situation was still undecided.

“The operator has decided he cannot risk putting the aircraft into the UK until there is certainty.

“I know you will find this extremely disappointing and I feel I have let you down, but we have tried our absolute hardest to make this work.”

Last night Mr Dendle told the Daily Echo: “We were advised by the Airbus A319 owner last Thursday and immediately stopped sales.

“We were in negotiation with an alternative supplier.

“They indicated they could offer flights but could not give us complete certainty for a number of weeks. Rather than hang on, we regretfully cancelled flights as of yesterday.”

Passengers hit by the airline’s decision include Sally Horn, 44, of Southampton.

Earlier this year she and her partner decided to have a week’s holiday in Bulgaria and spent more than £500 on airline tickets.

Sally said: “We didn’t want the inconvenience of travelling to Gatwick and maybe staying in a hotel overnight if we had an early flight.

“Travelling from Southampton with FlyLolo seemed ideal.

“It was terribly disappointing to receive an email saying the holiday was off. It was going to be our first visit to Bulgaria and we were really looking forward to it.”

FlyLolo started using the airport last July, when it launched a new service between Southampton and the Greek island of Skiathos.

Its decision to cancel all its summer holiday flights from the city is another blow to the airport.

At the end of last year it was revealed that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines had axed its summer service between Southampton and Amsterdam.

An airport spokesman said: “We are very disappointed to hear about FlyLolo’s decision to cease its summer programme from Southampton.

“We continue to progress our exciting plans for growth and are developing the destinations we have to offer to increase choice for all of our passengers.”