AN airline has cut back part of its first full winter schedule after a lack of interest from passengers.

But bosses at Durham Tees Valley Airport and Flyglobespan said the cutback was only a small part of the overall operations.

Budget airline Flyglobespan, a web-based airline founded in 2002, has cut some of its weekly flights to Palma, on Majorca.

The flights were due to fly from Durham to Palma every Saturday during the winter.

Bosses at Flyglobespan yesterday said flights would finish on November 17, restarting again in March.

They had decided to reduce the airline's operations because Palma had proved not to be a popular winter destination.

They also wanted to give passengers enough time to find alternative flight arrangements.

A spokesman for Flyglobespan said: "There has been a really poor uptake on it. We have had to cancel it and let customers know in plenty of time."

Flyglobespan, who launched its first flights from Durham Tees Valley in March, runs flights to ten European destinations, five of which are part of its winter programme.

None of the other four winter routes will be affected.

A spokesman for Durham Tees Valley Airport, said: "Given that this is Flyglobespan's first full winter season operating from Durham Tees Valley it is to be expected that the programme may have to be adjusted to reflect customer demand and in reality Majorca is not seen as a major tourist destination in the winter.

"However, it should be pointed out that the airline will be operating a significant programme throughout the winter to other destinations including Alicante, Malaga, Lanzarote and Tenerife - and the Palma service is scheduled to resume operations from March."