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With only 10% of the seats sold - 600 UK bookings and 200 in the States - the decision has been taken to cancel the weekly service.

Everyone currently booked will get a full refund or be offered an alternative Cosmos holiday.

Kent County Council Leader Paul Carter said: "The direct flights project was just one part of our initiatives to regenerate east Kent. It was a calculated risk that had significant potential and could have delivered major benefits for the region. Enormous efforts have been made on both sides of the Atlantic to promote the flights.

"But, despite putting back the deadline for decision three times, in order to see if the market would respond and pick up, sales have failed to reach a critical mass. In the absence of any other organisation prepared to share the financial risk of continuing with the project, it would not be prudent or viable to invest public money in the venture.

"We will now redouble our efforts to stimulate inward investment and economic regeneration for Kent."

The county council is believed to have already sunk £100,000 of council tax-payers money into the venture.