SkyWork Airlines (Bern) has announced it will close its Basel/Mulhouse/Freiburg, CH base for the duration of the upcoming winter 2017/18 season citing a change in operational plans.

The Swiss operator said in a statement the move was, in part, due to it switching its Basel-Vienna service to a "W" routing with six weekly services operating Bern-Vienna-Basle/Mulhouse/Freiburg-Vienna-Berne.

"The new 'W' flight concept will reduce operating costs at EuroAirport Basel, as crews, technicians, and aircraft will no longer have to be stationed there," it said.

SkyWork also cited weak demand from business travelers in particular for its decision to terminate its service from Basle/Mulhouse to London City.

"Unfortunately, it has proved impossible to run this route cost-effectively, despite offering ideal flight times for business passengers," it said. "Three of SkyWork Airlines’ competitors provide flights from Basle to the Greater London area, leading to a steady fall in prices and an increasingly low yield (revenue per seat/kilometre). The majority of passengers flying from Basle to London travel for leisure purposes, which means they are particularly price-conscious."

London City currently accounts for 42.86% of SkyWork's Basle weekly seating capacity (300 seats) with Vienna second with 250 seats/week or 35.71%. Other destinations include Bern and Westerland.