Just three months after beginning air service to Panama City, Newschannel 7 has learned that U.S. Airways has decided it's not working out.
The airline, which began offering flights here on April 2nd, now says it will discontinue service between its Charlotte, North Carolina hub and Panama City on September 3rd.
U.S. Airways Spokesperson Michelle Mohr says there are two big reasons for pulling out: skyrocketing fuel costs and a lack of passengers.
"We've seen that our load factors on flights between Panama City and Charlotte and vice versa between Charlotte and Panama City just are a bit too low when they're coupled with these sustained high fuel costs to justify us flying the route," said Mohr.
If conditions improve, Mohr says the airline will consider restoring the service. U.S. Airways is keeping its flights to and from Charlotte and Ft. Walton Beach and Tallahassee.