SOUTHAMPTON-based airline Flybe has left scores of passengers disappointed after pulling the plug on a new route.

Flights between Southampton and Hamburg have been cancelled after the airline postponed plans to launch the service at the last minute.

Flybe told the Daily Echo the decision had been made after a recent review found the route was not commercially viable to run during the winter.

They said the planned daily service to the German port city, due to take off tomorrow, has been grounded until further notice. However, according to Southampton Airport the route will be reinstated next summer.

Richard Ashmead had planned to visit family in Germany in December but his tickets were cancelled this week. His sister-in-law who lives in Germany and had planned to visit Richard in the New Forest next month also had her tickets cancelled.

The pensioner has been told he could be waiting two weeks for a refund.

He said: “They say you can rebook it but there’s not any clear details that there’s no flights for five months. That’s not good customer care. It’s a shame because I like Flybe.”

County council leader Roy Perry said: "Southampton Airport is a very important facility and we are always pleased to see the development of connections with other European cities.

"It's disappointing if this route is to be lost and we would hope that the airport would look at reinstating it."

The new route was welcomed by business leaders when it was announced in June.

Stewart Dunn, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “I understand that it’s merely been delayed but they hope to start it in the spring.”

Flybe said they have suspended the launch of the winter route between the cities until further notice, rather than cancelling it.

They are yet to officially announce a new start date for the service, but flights were last night available to book via their website from March 29.

A spokeswoman said: “As part of a recent review, the route has been deemed commercially unsustainable for the moment and we have taken the decision to suspend our plans to operate flights between Southampton and Hamburg this winter.

“Passengers who have booked to fly on this route will be contacted and offered an alternative flight or a full refund.

“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.”

Southampton Airport have removed Hamburg from the destinations map on their website.

Airport managing director Dave Lees said: “The route to Hamburg has been postponed until the start of summer 2015, which aligns more closely with leisure and business travel patterns.”