Delta has announced that it is to suspend its services between Edinburgh and New York JFK and between London Gatwick and Cincinnati from September as a result of weakening demand. The Edinburgh route was only launched in May 2008.

The airline said: “Customer demand for international travel has fallen significantly. Accordingly, we plan to reduce our international capacity by an additional 5 percent from what we announced in March, for a 15 percent total reduction in international capacity. This fall's capacity reductions will target routes that have experienced losses in the current economic climate and with higher fuel prices.”

Delta will still operate daily services from Gatwick and Heathrow to its hub in Atlanta as well as Heathrow-New York JFK flights while rival Continental Airlines continues to operate services between Edinburgh and New York Newark.