A “vital” bus service that dozens of commuters rely on to get to work at Heathrow Airport is set to be partly axed next month – leaving “disappointed” passengers fearing for their jobs.

Carousel Buses has announced a raft of changes to its services, due to come into effect on June 3 – including scrapping part of the High Wycombe to Heathrow A40/740 route between Uxbridge and Heathrow amid falling passenger numbers. 

However, frustrated commuters say they may now have to look for new jobs after the shock announcement. 

Justin Nailard, who lives in High Wycombe and travels to work at Heathrow Airport at least four days a week, said he and his fellow passengers are facing extra costs of up to £90 a month as they will be forced to take another bus from Uxbridge onto Heathrow to complete their commutes. 

He said: “It’s a real shame, we’re all very disappointed. It leaves very few options for staff and flying passengers to use public transport from High Wycombe. 

“It is really surprising that other towns in areas like Reading, Slough and Oxford will still be getting good, direct services but High Wycombe won’t. It is going to make it very difficult to get to work. 

“I think the only other option will be to get a bus to Uxbridge then another to Heathrow, but currently we get subsidised bus passes from BAA for £25 a month and this is going to add up to £90 onto what we already pay – it is a lot of money and it is going to make it harder.” 

Mr Nailard, who has worked at the airport for 10 years and has used the A40 bus service for six years, says Carousel should have carried out a review of the service contract before scrapping it completely. 

Another regular user of the service said: “Unfortunately there are quite a few of us who rely on this to get to work and whilst I understand that it may not be as busy as they would like, this route has been around now for over 11 years and many have built a reliance on this to get to work. Have they even considered this?

“Some people have already posted on Facebook their concerns for their work and how this will mean finding a new job.”

Bus enthusiast and former High Wycombe mayor, Peter Cartwright, who worked round the clock to save bus services from being cut in the town, has now suggested to Bucks County Council that rival bus company Arriva should now consider extending its X30 service which runs from Aylesbury to High Wycombe using the A4010 via the A40 to Beaconsfield and then on to Heathrow. 

He said: “There are people in these towns and surroundings who work at Heathrow and need an alternative to the car but also often work shifts so a nine to five service is no good.”

Carousel is also making other changes to services, including scrapping the X80 between High Wycombe and Reading, turning the 730 bus into the 105 and service 39 will be reintroduced to operate from High Wycombe town centre to Totteridge, replacing the service currently provided by the PR1.

A new service 104 will be introduced to provide links between High Wycombe, Beaconsfield, Gerrards Cross and Slough.

Carousel has been approached for comment.