The red and yellow DHL Balloon at Tan Quee Lan Street was deflated on Monday morning, ending its 2 1/2- year run here.

When the land lease expired, balloon owner Singapore Ducktours tried finding other suitable sites but have been unsuccessful so far. The balloon has to go to make way for the new Bugis MRT station.

As Leonard Seek, 28, one of the four balloon pilots with Ducktours, watched the balloon being folded, he said, 'It's been like a baby to me.'

He was on the balloon field himself in 2006 when the newly arrived balloon was 'birthed'. He recalls how it had been a tricky business inflating the helium titan without it being 'smashed to the ground' by strong winds.

Mr Seek then spent countless hours on the balloon, up to 12 hours at a stretch on some days, controlling the balloon and accompanying passengers on their flghts.

His record number of trips in a day - 42.

'It was quite chaotic at first, but I got used to it after a while,' he laughed. On hectic days, going to the toilet or grabbing a bite was a challenge.

He also remembers how he was clutching the support beams on his first balloon flight because of his fear of heights. And he is still afraid of heights.

But strangely enough, he is no longer nervous on the balloon, which could rise to a 180 metre height, although a ride on a 140 metre tall ferris wheel in Tokyo just last year had him rooted in fear.

Now that the balloon is no more, he has headed back to Suntec City to help out with his company's hippo tours and river cruises.

A planned party to bid the balloon goodbye last week fell through as a technical glitch left the balloon grounded earlier than planned.

Revellers were also turned away during the Formula One weekend.

The balloon, which has brought more than 200,000 passengers to the skies, will be packed and shipped to France for cleaning and servicing.

Its fate is yet to be determined. According to Ducktours assistant director Pamela Wee, they are still waiting for a confirmation from Sydney Australia.