In yet another sign of the American auto industry's decline, British Airways is halting flights from Detroit to London, saying it doesn't see any possible upswing on the route.

"Detroit was a route very dependent on the auto industry, and the changing nature of this sector made it a very challenging market to be in," British Airways said.

"Despite the fact we have operated in the Detroit-London market for over 50 years, we see no possible upswing in the business and have, therefore, decided to utilise the aircraft on other routes where it can make a profitable contribution to the airline's bottom line."

It will stop flights between Detroit and London on March 30, 2008, and will offer customers who have already booked flights alternatives either on BA or other carriers.

The airline also said it will move its daily flight to Dallas Fort Worth and twice-daily flights to Houston from London's Gatwick to London's Heathrow, and increase the frequency of flights to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport as well as to the Seattle, Washington and Orlando airports.