The credit crunch, rising fuel prices and the recent collapse of Euromanx appears to have had little affect on passenger numbers at the Isle of Man Airport.

Figures just released show that the airport handled more than 67,000 passengers in July, an increase of just 0.6% on July 2007. However, when comparing passenger numbers for the first seven months of 2008 with 2007, the airport reports an increase of 3.6%.

Although passenger numbers are holding up well, the collapse of Euromanx in May has led to a reduction of nearly 80% of passengers travelling to London City Airport. However passengers flying to Manchester Airport were up 9.3% and passengers travelling to Blackpool Airport increased by 10.5%.

Flybe, which now carries more than 70% of the Island’s air traffic, had a good month, with the Luton airport route having more than two-thirds of the seats filled and Gatwick three-quarters full. Its Birmingham airport, Liverpool airport, Manchester airport and Southampton flights were also well booked, with over 60% of seats occupied.

Ann Reynolds, Airport Director of Isle of Man Airport, was generally pleased with the July results. “We were predicting a 1.5% decrease in passengers for July and it is reassuring that we have managed to exceed the July 2007 total,” she said.

“I believe that this indicates that the Isle of Man is able to sustain a strong and robust air passenger market, despite the UK and global downturn in air traffic. It is also comforting to see that the important North West market is slightly up and, although the loss of EuroManx on the London City route has hit us hard, London traffic is about the same as July 2007 with the success of the Luton service.

“Concerted efforts continue to be made by the Airport to restore the important morning and evening return flights to London City. VLM is maintaining its schedule on the route, but an Isle of Man day return facility to the City Airport is badly missed. We are in no doubt about the economic importance of an Isle of Man originating London City route to the business community. Whilst there is firm interest from airlines to operate this route, there are a number of real difficulties to be overcome, including the availability of the key slots needed at London City. We are in close liaison with the business community, interested airlines and London City Airport in our effort to reinstate these valuable flights.”