As of Jan. 7, travelers out of Fredericton will no longer be able to catch a direct flight to Boston.

Big Sky Airlines has announced that it will be pulling its service from the Fredericton International Airport.

The air carrier has been experiencing operational and economic difficulties for the last several months due to the soaring cost of oil, said David Innes, CEO for the Greater Fredericton Airport Authority.

When the operator took over the route last year on behalf of Delta Airlines, oil was about $50 US a barrel but at current prices, the airline can lose money even if the planes are almost full, he said.

Anyone who has purchased a ticket for a trip after Jan. 7 should make alternate arrangements or request a refund, Innes said.

The airport will try to find an alternate service provider to the American city, he said.

The flights to Boston started flying in 2003 after the Fredericton Chamber of Commerce secured a bank of travellers who could ensure $2.3 million in ticket sales for the first two years of service.

About 75,000 seats have been sold since Delta first began offering the service, which Innes said shows there's a need for a direct flight to the northeast United States.

"I think we've kind of proven the case now. It's really just a matter of going out with the numbers and the history that we do have and finding somebody who's in a position to do this work," he said.