OWLS HEAD (AP) – Maine Atlantic Aviation has discontinued flights to five islands off midcoast Maine, creating a void that business and government leaders were scrambling to fill.

Maine Atlantic, which operates at the Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head, flew about 6,700 passengers annually, according to its president, Roland Lussier, who took over the company in July. He said Maine Atlantic was losing more than $100,000 a year on the flights.

Lussier announced Monday that the business no longer would fly to the islands, and instead would focus on fuel sales and aircraft maintenance.

He said his decision to cut his losses followed a foggy summer that reduced traffic and a jump in fuel costs.

The flights operated much like a limousine service, said Jeff Northgraves, who manages the Knox County airport. Summer residents wanting to skip the ferry and get to their island house for a weekend getaway, or year-round residents needing to get to an off-island appointment and return home the same day would call Maine Atlantic, Northgraves said, and book a chartered flight.

Maine Atlantic tried to schedule different passengers for a single flight, he said, or to schedule a flight to coincide with mail delivery.

“It’s a fairly common thing to fly in and out,” said Marjorie Stratton, Vinahaven town manager. “It’s a big deal to the islanders to maintain that access.”

Stratton said Maine Atlantic made 31 medical evacuation flights last year. “It’s essential from that point of view,” she said.

AP-ES-12-15-04 0216EST