Manx2.com has nominated the Royal British Legion IOM as their charity of the year for 2012.

The support for the Isle of Man branch of the Royal British Legion will include flight tickets to help raise money for the charity and also travel support for Isle of Man-based service personnel – who are having their travel warrants withdrawn in the near future.

Manx2.com staff have also committed to raise money and awareness for the charity throughout 2012 – and as in 2011 they will participate in events such as the Parish Walk and a sponsored Plane pull and for this summer they are planning a Swing Night with 1940’s music, food and a static Spitfire display.

Colonel Charles Wilson, Royal British Legion IOM: ‘Following on our 90th anniversary last year we are thrilled to receive support from Manx2.com and all their staff. The contribution will undoubtedly prove a real boost to our work here in the Isle of Man and will be very much appreciated.”

Noel Hayes, Chairman, Manx2.com added: “Royal British Legion IOM is a key Isle of Man charity and continues to make an invaluable contribution here providing financial, social and emotional support to those who are serving or who have served in the armed forces, and their dependants. We are looking forward to working with them to ensure Manx men and women serving in the forces are not disadvantaged when returning home from duty and also helping the Legion’s fund raising throughout 2012.”

Manx2.com is to increase its services between the Isle of Man and Gloucester.

The airline has announced that from the end of October it will operate a third daily flight on Mondays and Fridays – the airline currently operates twice-daily weekday flights between the two destinations.

Chairman of Manx2.com Noel Hayes said: ‘Cheltenham, Gloucestershire and the surrounding counties have so much to offer, including stunning scenery, outdoor activities, history and great shopping and these flights provide an ideal gateway to the area.’

Mr Hayes added: ‘In addition to its ideal M5 motorway location, Gloucestershire Airport is fast acquiring the reputation of being the easiest airport in Europe to travel through; our passengers are usually out of the airport and in their cars within five minutes of touchdown. And with no car parking charges at all to pay, leaving Gloucester Airport is not just fast, it’s free.’

A new service between Belfast City Airport and Gloucester Airport took off last week (13 September 2011).

The service, operated by Manx2.com, now operates five times per week via the Isle of Man.

Katy Best, Business Development Director at George Best Belfast City Airport said: “We are delighted with Manx2.com’s new connection service from Belfast City Airport to Gloucestershire. We are confident that this will be a very popular route among our growing leisure passengers, with its close proximity to Cheltenham and very convenient scheduling times making a perfect long weekend!”

Isle of Man based Manx2.com and Gloucestershire Airport at Staverton have teamed up in an attempt to set the Guinness World Record for the fastest airport to transit through in the world.

Manx2 operates 14 flights per week to Gloucester (M5) Airport and is confident that it is the fastest airport in the world for disembarking a scheduled flight and re-uniting passengers with their bags in the terminal.

Chairman Noel Hayes said: ‘We are confident that Gloucester Airport can set the world record for fastest airport in the world. We operate 14 flights a week to and from the airport and it is common for passengers to have their bags in their hands less than 5 minutes after landing which is a real contrast to the fiasco seen recently at many larger airports! The service our passengers receive at Gloucester is second to none and the speedy unloading of the aircraft and free adjacent car parking is a definite bonus for our customers.’

We plan a formal attempt to set the world record during the summer of 2011 with adjudicators for Guinness World Records present to witness the event. The Airport’s Head of Operation, Darren Lewington added: ‘Our handling staff are the best in the business and are relishing the challenge of setting the record.’

Good luck guys!

The deadline is fast approaching for the ‘ManX2 Factor’ competition to find schoolchildren to deliver the video safety briefings on Manx2.com aircraft. Entrants now have until Friday 15 October to register their interest.

The competition, run in partnership with the Department of Education and Children (DEC), is open to all Isle of Man primary school children in years 1 to 6 who can read to a good standard.

All auditions will be held at participating primary schools. Three girls and three boys will be selected by each participating school ready for final judging later in October, by representatives from Manx2.com and the DEC.

Manx2.com Chairman Noel Hayes said: ‘With the recent introduction of large format video screens on our three Let 410 aircraft it was a perfect opportunity to approach the Department of Education and Children to find Isle of Man children to record the vital safety messages shown before each flight. Passenger safety is always our first priority and we hope that by producing a unique, unusual and entertaining video we will get the full attention of our passengers. We will also be showing Isle of Man Tourism and Manx National Heritage videos which will further help us to fly the Manx flag and carry the Manx message far and wide.”

John Gill, Head of Legal and Administrative Services at the DEC, said: “We hope pupils have a lot of fun making their films. The result promises to be a great twist on the standard aircraft safety briefing video and one that will be seen by many thousands of visitors and locals travelling on Manx2 routes.”

All children interested in entering should speak to their head teacher. The winners will have their final videos professionally recorded and these safety messages will then be used on approximately 20 flights every day, guaranteeing each winner instant stardom!

Manx2.com employs 60 staff and has a fleet of seven aircraft providing up to 30 flights between the Isle of Man and Blackpool airport, Belfast airport, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle airport, Gloucester and Jersey.