THE on-off direct air service from Belfast to Barbados is definitely off - and this time for good!

On-line bookers, travel agents and some local tour operators have been left fuming at BWIA's decision to discontinue the service from Belfast International Airport.

The decision that the suspended service was not going to resume as stated on June 26 came in a terse statement from the airline in Port of Spain.

It said: "In order to continue to streamline its operations BWIA West Indies Airways Limited will terminate service to/from Prestwick, Scotland and Belfast, Northern Ireland with effect from June 23, 2005.

"For further information regarding reservations on these services please contact 627.2942 (Trinidad and Tobago), 1800-538-2942 (for the Caribbean and North America, including Canada), 0870-499-2942 (United Kingdom and Europe).

"BWIA is grateful to the customers, stakeholders and industry partners who supported the operation of the aforementioned services."

Said Ireland Sales Manager Declan Murphy: "We had hoped to resume the service once the aircraft had returned from its heavy maintenance programme and was due to restart on the 26th of June, but BWIA has undergone a series of cost cutting measures recently in order to bring the airline back into profitability.

"As part of these exercises it was decided to streamline its operations which include Cuba, Dominican Republic and also Belfast and Preswick , the airline will continue to serve the Caribbean from London Heathrow as it has done for several decades .

"All ticketed passengers that were booked on the Belfast service have been reaccommodated via Manchester and a contact telephone number is available to agents and passengers on 0044 161 498 1730 .

"We have endeavoured to work with all agents and tour operators to make sure that their clients are offered an alternative .

"I stress that the decision to discontinue the service is based on an overall reduction of operations as part of the restructuring programme at BWIA to move the airline back into profitability and is a corporate descision based on such."