A new summer flight to the Costa Blanca by low-cost airline flyglobespan has been cancelled before its first take-off.

The airline announced in October it would be starting flights to Murcia from Aberdeen on Sundays and Wednesdays from April 29.

But it removed the Wednesday flights from its website without warning on Wednesday and confirmed to callers they would not be going ahead "for technical reasons".

A spokesman at Aberdeen Airport said they had not yet been told officially the flights had been cancelled.

Last night, flyglobespan confirmed it was a lack of passengers which had prompted the decision which has left some travellers furious.

Carol Steel, of Aberdeen, who has a house on the Costa Blanca said: "I booked three trips six months ago and I certainly didn't expect the flights to be cancelled before they started. They haven't given them a chance.

"I heard from friends before I received e-mails from flyglobespan telling me two outward flights and one inward flight were being changed. I have managed to rearrange them all but I have had to extend the trips, all which is obviously more costly.

"I could just as easily booked the flights to Alicante if I had thought there was any doubt about this service starting. It has meant a lot of inconvenience."

Mr Malcolm Gordon, of Westhill, near Aberdeen, said he found out about the changes by chance.

"I was looking at the website for other flights and spotted that the Wednesday ones had all disappeared. They initially told us the flights had been taken off while the website was being updated but then admitted the Wednesday flights would not be starting.

"We have managed to change flights but not to what we wanted. We were restricted because we are meeting family in Spain. We are now going for two days more than we intended and flying into Murcia and out of Alicante.

"Because the best alternative for us meant a change of more than two days in the departure date, they said they could only cancel and offer a full refund so we could rebook. That would have meant at least £50 on the bill and we only booked on Monday."

A flyglobespan spokesman apologised to passengers for any inconvenience caused but said the company had little option but to cancel the midweek Murcia flight.

"We are launching a major programme from Aberdeen this summer and in general have been very pleased at the interest and uptake," he said, "However, any company must listen to what the market says and it was apparent there wasn't the demand for two flights a week from the airport to Murcia.

"Any passengers affected can transfer to the Sunday flight free of charge or have a complete refund. We apologise for the inconvenience and remain committed to bringing low-fare flights to Aberdeen."

Also due to start next month are three flights a week from Aberdeen to Palma, twice-weekly flights to Faro, Alicante and Barcelona and weekly flights to Cyprus and Tenerife.

The airline will base a new 737-700 at Aberdeen.