Indeed a sad day for NI where the single daily rotation to the US is being axed, though I sense that Stormont may rescue this situation, potentially to late to save the UA link, but worth some sort of subvention, presented in whatever fashion may attract a carrier with lower costs like Norwegian etc.
All that said the key challenge for UA is not a lack of demand, in fact the numbers were strong, their challenge is that the uptake at the front cabin is poor, and whether the route be profitable or not, other routes will present a much greater return potential and with higher fares and greater uptake in business etc.
I'm hoping BFS get a replacement. Wow could turn up on KEF and offer a one stop US route, like from Dublin and soon Cork...in the mean time, though not ideal particularly from people north of the province, DUB offers a great range and frequency of routes. A significant proportion of NI / Ulster residents live equidistant from DUB and BFS...