BRITISH Airways has announced big cuts in the number of flights to the US and Europe in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

A total of 190 services a week will be scrapped or suspended, including 36 flights to the US.

BA's services between London Heathrow and Belfast, which have lost £38m over the past four years, are to be withdrawn. Up to 160 of the 310 BA staff employed in Northern Ireland will lose their jobs.

The changes follow last week's announcement by BA that 7,000 jobs are to be cut and capacity reduced by ten per cent, because of the impact on demand following the September 11 outrage.

The withdrawal of the Heathrow to Belfast service will result in the closure of BA's operating base at Belfast International Airport.

David Spurlock, BA's director of strategy, said: "The current difficult market conditions demand we take firm action. Our focus has to be on making best use of our assets."

The announcement made no mention of any delay to the planned resumption of Concorde services, planned for next month.

The changes mean a cut in flights from Heathrow to New York from six to five a day.

Services from Heathrow to Boston will be reduced from three to two a day, while flights to Washington will be cut from 19 to 14 a week.

A daily Gatwick to New York service will be suspended and Gatwick services to San Diego and Houston will be reduced.

Middle East flights from Heathrow to Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Jeddah and Kuwait will be scaled back and the suspension of the Heathrow-Islamabad service will continue.

The changes will come into operation next month.

There will also be an accelerated transfer of services from Gatwick to Heathrow.

Mr Spurlock said BA remained committed to using Gatwick airport, which played a key part in the airline's network, but services were being transferred from the airport to Heathrow, where experience had shown that prospects for future profitability were stronger.

"We are maintaining our unrivalled network to US destinations, but cutting frequencies where appropriate in the current market conditions," he said.

"This is the first phase of measures to address the changing conditions. We are reviewing the market and our network on a week-to-week basis and, consequently, will quickly address further issues as they arise in order to protect our business."