MANCHESTER Airport has seen a dramatic fall in passengers and airlines with 2,500 fewer flights per month.

More than 500 international services have been withdrawn as airlines struggle in the current economic climate, including around 200 long-haul flights.

And last month, almost 200,000 fewer passengers passed through the airport than in October 2007.

Bmi became the latest firm to axe its long-haul flights yesterday .

Its daily service to Chicago will take off for the last time in January. Las Vegas and Caribbean services will be cut after Easter - placing 140 jobs under threat.

British Airways' last long-haul flight from Manchester left for New York last weekend.

Both firms transferred their planes to Heathrow, blaming falling passenger numbers and increased competition from other operators.

It follows the collapse of XL airways and budget British long-haul carrier Zoo, which both operated transatlantic flights from Manchester.

Nigel Turner, bmi chief executive, said: "Our Manchester long haul services are unsustainable.

"They've never performed to the levels we had hoped. Chicago has been at best a moderate success up to this year.

"However, a combination of higher fuel prices, increased competition and the impact of open skies at Heathrow has had a serious negative impact on its viability."

He told staff Manchester `cannot deliver the levels of premium business that are available from the London market' and Manchester passengers were `buying purely on price'.

Its two Airbus A330 planes will now operate to Cairo and Amman from Heathrow.

Overall there were 2,454 fewer flights in October 2008 than the same month the previous year and some 194,578 passengers. Domestic, charter and private services have also been cut.

The number of long-haul aircraft movements fell from 2,003 to 1,850 in a comparison between the same months - before bmi axed 48 and BA 28.

But international scheduled flight passenger numbers actually increased by 6,530.

Tourism bosses have rejected fears the cuts will reduce visitor numbers.

Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, said: "North America is one of our primary markets.

"While this is undeniably disappointing news, Manchester's long-haul route network to the US is still very impressive.

"US visitors, who are the fourth most important in terms of numbers for Greater Manchester, will still find we're accessible.

"All airlines are finding it tough at the moment so it was inevitable that where there's competition on a route there is going to be an issue.

"This decision will strengthen the position of the other transatlantic operators."

Seven airlines - Continental, US Airways, Delta, American Airlines, Virgin, PIA and Thomas Cook - still operate direct flights to the US from Manchester, a total of 50 a week.

Bmi, owned by Lufthansa, has started a 90-day consultation period with all union and staff. Many will be offered jobs at Heathrow.

Manchester Airport, owned by Greater Manchester's ten local authorities, now serves 51 long haul destinations and 218 destinations worldwide.

A Manchester Airport Group spokesman said: "We are obviously disappointed.

"But the aviation market is shrinking due to the global economic climate and Manchester Airport is not immune.

"The destinations affected by bmi's decision are already served by Manchester Airport, with the exception of Antigua."

Customers with post-April bookings will be offered alternative flights.

Other Bmi services are unaffected.

Brian Simpson MEP, Labour's transport spokesman for the European Parliament, said: "I find it very disappointing that no British airline now flies full scheduled services across the Atlantic from Manchester.

"This leaves the market open to the Americans and also forces passengers from the north to use the unsatisfactory airport that is Heathrow."