Low-cost airline USA 3000 has axed its spring and summer Bermuda schedule. The group says it has been forced to cut the link between the Island and Baltimore as a result of the economic crisis.

However, it is understood the Department of Tourism is close to announcing a new airline is coming to Bermuda, while USA 3000 is also hoping to reinstate the line later in the year. Last summer USA 3000 ran flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays for $99 each way, with Premier and Tourism Minister Ewart Brown saying it provided good value competition to the Washington D.C. area.

Baltimore/Washington International Airport is also the closest airport to Johns Hopkins Hospital, meaning without the link patients instead have to fly to Reagan National Airport, which is about an hour away from the hospital on one of US Airways' daily flights.

Flights to Bermuda have been removed from USA 3000's website, and an airline spokeswoman confirmed: "For the spring/summer schedule this route has been discontinued. If a decision is made to reinstate the route availability will reflect on the USA 3000 Airline's website."

Asked if the cancellation was due to the economic climate, she replied: "Yes. Unfortunately, USA 3000 Airlines had to reduce certain markets. We are hoping to reinstate Bermuda in the fall."

Last month, Dr. Brown welcomed news that Zoom Airlines may return to the skies less than a year after the budget company went bust and left holiday-makers stranded in Bermuda.

The Premier warned Zoom would have to work extra hard to recapture the transatlantic market share taken up in its absence by British Airways.

His press secretary said of the latest news: "The Premier will be updating the public very soon on a number of airline developments for this coming spring and summer. We try to avoid speaking prematurely."