Archive for the ‘Isle of Man airport’ CategoryFlybe has dismissed easyJet’s announcement of a Liverpool to Isle of Man service as ‘flash in the pan’ competition. The airline, which operates a four-times-per-day service between the two destinations, said it ‘welcomed competition – no matter how infrequent the flights – on any of its established routes’, and cited easyJet’s previous attempt to compete on the Jersey to Luton service in 2008 that lasted just ten months. Commenting on the easyJet announcement, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer Mike Rutter said: “Flybe welcomes the competition from easyJet on the Liverpool route because it will enable passengers to compare Flybe’s award-winning service with the very different business model that easyJet operate. Flybe will continue to offer a Liverpool service four times a day, from 0710 in the morning to 1855 at night, compared to easyJet’s irregular middle of the day schedule. Passengers will also find the ‘excitement’ of the easyJet scrum to get a seat on-board will soon wear thin when compared with Flybe’s guaranteed seat allocation.” “easyJet’s schedule is no substitute for a regular, reliable service and looking at past performance, will probably last for a maximum of six months before their planners decide to move the aircraft onto a different destination. Flybe on the other hand are in the Isle of Man for the long-term and we’re confident our services will outlast any easyJet short-term dalliance.” To book Liverpool airport parking and Liverpool airport hotels click on the links. Manx2.com has called for Government to develop a long term aviation strategy for the Island. The company, which is based in the Isle of Man, has made the request following the announcement that UK airline easyJet will be servicing the Isle of Man. Chairman Noel Hayes said: “Manx2.com always welcomes fair competition and I’m sure the arrival of easyJet will bring short term benefits to the Isle of Man. However, I believe this highlights the need for Government to put in place a long term aviation strategy for our Island rather than the current ‘free for all’ open skies strategy which results in continuous instability and frequent changes in operators. “In the last three years alone, five airlines have stopped operations into the Island. Stability of operations would encourage long term investment in route development and pay dividends. Currently, an airline comes to the Island, there is generally a price war and then one is pushed out, bringing us back to where we started or worse. easyJet’s arrival will certainly make FlyBe re-examine their prices but these scraps only last for a limited period. “easyJet will only be indirectly competing with Manx2.com, but as a locally owned and locally based key provider of Isle of Man air links, I believe the stability of a planned aviation strategy is essential for a community which depends upon maintenance of essential transport links.” Manx2.com employs 60 staff and has a fleet of seven aircraft providing up to 30 flights a day to the Isle of Man. Its customer services, reservations and operations departments are all based in the new hangar facility at Ronaldsway Airport. To book Liverpool airport parking and Liverpool airport hotels click on the links.
Flybe is offering a lifeline to expectant mums in the later stages of pregnancy. Currently, women who are more than 34 weeks pregnant are not permitted to fly even with a medical certificate stating they are fit to fly. These rules can lead to some women having to travel and stay away from home to receive medical treatments that may not be available where they live. After much investigation, Flybe has announced that, on specific routes only, it can accommodate women at any stage of pregnancy who need to attend mainland hospitals and who hold a signed medical certificate confirming that they are fit to fly. Flybe’s approved routes are:
Women who are between 28 and 34 weeks pregnant still require a medical certificate and can travel on any route. Consultant and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Feto-Maternal Medicine at Southampton University Hospital, David Howe comments: “We are delighted that Flybe has been able to make this critical policy change. To the small number of women each year to which this is so important, this will make a huge difference at a time when they are already under considerable stress for other reasons and I am very grateful that Flybe has taken the time and trouble to consider and change this policy.” Manx2.com is strengthening the link between Blackpool and Belfast City by commencing a twice daily commuter service next month. From Monday 6th July 2009, two return flights will operate six days per week (excluding Sundays), between the North West and Northern Ireland, retaining an important link to the business market. The first flight will depart Blackpool International at 0810, and with a short 15 minute stopover in the Isle of Man (passengers will not have to leave the aircraft during this time), arrive in Belfast City at 0940. The second flight departs Blackpool at 1550 and arrives in Belfast at 1720. In addition, due to growing passenger numbers on the route, Manx2.com is rescheduling the times of its Blackpool to Isle of Man service to make travel even more convenient, operating up to four return flights per day including a later 1925 flight to cater for commuters. Sue Kendrick, Customer Relations and Communications Manager for Blackpool International, said: “This is great news for leisure and business passengers from across the North West. The Isle of Man route is an extremely popular one and the airport welcomes the additional links to Belfast City.” Manx2.com’s Chairman Noel Hayes added: “For some time now, I have been receiving comments from business contacts in both Blackpool and Belfast saying that it would be fantastic if we were able to offer a daily shuttle service to cater for business travellers and so we are responding to demand with our new commuter service. Irish regional airline, Aer Arann will be a new airline at London City Airport when it commences scheduled air services from the Isle of Man on 19 January 2009. The airline will operate three times daily flights with its latest, 72-seat new-generation ATR72-500 aircraft, pending the type’s certification. The move restores one of the most important air services for the Island and gives a massive boost to the Isle of Man’s finance sector. The Island has retained just one flight a day to City Airport (operated by VLM) since the collapse of EuroManx in May. Aer Arann’s announcement restores the weekday frequency to four daily flights and, critically for the Island’s business sector, provides the much missed morning and evening services, enabling Isle of Man travellers a full day’s work in the Capital. For more London City Airport information and to book London City airport parking click on the links. 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.” Manx2.com is offering Euromanx passengers who had already booked to fly to Belfast a free return ticket to make sure they aren’t stranded following news that Euromanx has ceased trading. Manx2.com already offers frequent flights between the Isle of Man and both Belfast Airports (City and International). All passengers with an existing (one made before 9th May 2008) Euromanx booking between the Isle of Man and Belfast, which hasn’t yet been used, are asked to send an e-mail with all the details to Belfast@manx2.com, or write to Manx2 reservations at Isle of Man Airport. Reservations staff will then process those requests and allocate the customers a seat on the nearest available Belfast flight, free of charge. That flight may be to either Belfast Airport. Passengers must be able to supply the relevant Euromanx booking confirmation reference to prove their booking is current. “We are doing this to make sure that anyone who has booked with Euromanx to Belfast isn’t left stranded”, says Manx2.com’s communications director James Filleul. “All they have to do is contact us via e-mail or letter, and we will rebook them on the nearest available Belfast flight free of charge”. “We already provide very frequent Belfast services, and we will continue to make sure that route is very well served from the Isle of Man, despite the news that Euromanx are to cease trading”. EuroManx has ceased trading and cancelled all flights. The airline, which has been operating for the past five years, blames rising fuel prices and reduced passenger numbers. Alternative arrangements have been made, and Flybe will carry all ticketed EuroManx passengers to Liverpool, Manchester, London Luton and Gatwick where seats are available. EuroManx passengers to Belfast will be advised in due course. The Isle of Man Airport saw a huge increase in passenger numbers last month. Figures just released by the airport show that passenger numbers increased by 12.6% in February compared with February 2007. Increases were seen on routes to Liverpool airport, Manchester airport and Blackpool airport; flights to and from Manchester airport saw an increase of 27%. The reinstatement of Luton flights and an increase in flights to Gatwick also assisted in the increased numbers.
Manx2.com is to add extra flights between the Isle of Man and Gloucester (M5) and Belfast. Gloucester will have an additional flight added on Thursdays, and Isle of Man, Belfast flights will increase to 70 per week to cope with the increased demand. “Belfast has so much to offer from shopping and nightlife to sightseeing and exploring the surrounding countryside, and we have grown the route substantially in the last year. Our summer timetable in 2008 has 20% more flights on it than the 2007 version, which is a real sign of how successful that route has been” said Manx2.com’s communications director James Filleul. Manx2.com now offers flights between the Isle of Man and Blackpool airport, Belfast International airport, Belfast City airport, Leeds airport, Gloucester (M5), Jersey and, from 3 March, Nottingham East Midlands airport. |
