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Airport passenger numbers carry on falling
A FURTHER drop in passenger numbers at Isle of Man Airport is disappointing, airport bosses admit.
July saw a 2 per cent drop in passengers. Some 63,500 used the airport in July – 1,300 fewer than in the same month last year.
In June the shortfall over last year was 2.6 per cent and the deficits in April and May were well into double figures.
Airport director Ann Reynolds admitted that given the traffic lost during the first seven months of the year – almost 30,000 passengers – it was now an almost impossible task to achieve 2009 passenger levels for 2010.
She said: 'With the recession, the winter weather and the ash cloud behind us, we were frankly forecasting the recovery in passengers using the airport to be quicker than has proven to be the case.
'We had predicted a small increase for July as we expected that confidence would gradually return to the air travel industry and, whilst things are going in the right direction, we are not there yet.
'We are not alone with this and other airports are finding the return to growth also to be slower than expected.'
The Manx2.com routes to both Belfast airports have been particularly hard hit with Northern Ireland air travel down by over 30 per cent in July.
Growth in the vital North West – Blackpool, Liverpool and Manchester –traffic was small and both London and Midlands routes saw small decreases, the latter due to the withdrawal of the East Midlands service, but compensated slightly by an increase in passengers to and from Birmingham.
However, there were some positive results with the combined traffic from Southampton, Gloucester and Bristol increasing passenger numbers from the South and South West by 12 per cent and the Regency Travel and Freedom Holidays flights to Paris and the Ballearic Islands proving popular.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
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YOUR COMMENTS
Obviously people are not willing to get ripped off by the airlines and also the extortionate parking fees. Flymaybe has now kindly increased DEBIT CARD "transaction fees" to 9 per person, credit card fees are 10.50 per person and if you have the initiative to select your seat it is an additional 6. The icing on the cake is "additional leg room seats" at the emergency exits now cost 15 per person. Oh, and be careful not to select their insurance at 5 per person as this will almost always never pay out! It is now a constant battle against the computer to book a simple domestic flight but don't give up because a phone call adds another 20 per person!
DJB
DJB is quite right; it's the cost of flying that's keeping passenger figures down. Manx2 are expensive too, so it's not just Flybe that operates a high-fees service. Easyjet are cheaper but only fly at odd times. If Ann Reynolds really wants more passengers to use the airport then look no further than reducing air taxes and charges.
CAS
Over 650 for 3 people to fly return to Gatwick on an airline that can fly you much further for much less (if you exclude the IOM). It doesn't take a master statistician to figure out what's going on. I'm not blaming the airlines either, they're not exactly raking it in on Manx routes, even if every plane was full it's hardly a cash cow - you might have to look a little closer to home to see where most of our ticket money is going and why it's so expensive to fly to & from the IOM.
P
If Ann Reynolds wants the passenger numbers to increase, then she should be trying to do something about the cost of the taxes/charges. I haven't had a holiday for years and I got offered the opportunity to go on a cheap deal to Spain later this month. Cheap, that is, from Gatwick onwards. My flight to Gatwick from the Island cost the same as my flight to Spain and a weeks accommodation!! This is over 200!!!! I also got a shock when I saw the 9 'transaction fee'. What does that cover exactly?? I find it frankly disgusting at how much it costs to get off/on this Island, but what choice do we have? When passengers are being charged extortionate amounts of money to travel a relatively short distance, Ms Reynolds shouldn't really be surprised that numbers are down should she?
SKINT BRIT ABROAD
I presume 15 pounds for an extra leg-room seat is the real hardship Angela Moffat's government workers are referring to. It's a tough old world !
PHIL.T
€175.00 for one adult to fly Dublin to the Isle of Man. Its a half hour flight! i hope bad business continues and changes are forced so i can visit home more often.
NS
Not surprised
RR
We are going to a family wedding in October in the south of England, but sad to say due to the cost of flights we will be on the ferry.
RB
I totally agree with what most people have said. Its not just Flybe. Manx 2 prices have soared and they also have a "transaction fee". What are all these fees for? Does anyone know?We have recently booked to travel to Belfast in late November, 2 adults and 2 children 400!! The flight takes approx 25 minutes and there is no chance of tea or coffee (even if they do charge you for it!!) the steward/stewardess is also the pilot. If you haven't flown Manx 2 yet, it really is an experience!! I can honestly say if I didn't have to travel by air I wouldn't at these prices, but in winter there is no alternative, at least in the summer you have that other monopoly called the Steam Packet. I am not surprised the numbers are down at the airport. Surely if they reduced the air fares they would have full planes! Time to make some changes I think!
RICHARD BRANSON
The cost has to be a factor. This week I used my Flybe airmiles for a "FREE" return flight to Liverpool. It's only a 20 minute flight, yet it cost me over 65 pounds just in charges and taxes and that's without the IOM airport parking charge.
RON
not only do we have to put up with exorbitant airfares but now we have to wait longer on the ferry because they won't fix the 4th engine! what does the minister for home affairs have to say about this?
KB
When you're in a hole Ann just keep digging! 30,000 less passengers and 60 million of our money to increase capacity and still counting! Soon Manx2 will be the Islands biggest carrier! Never mind just sit back and count your gold plated salary you'll soon be collecting your gold plated pension.
PAUL
Are they trying to cut staffing levels by saying counter staff are no longer required?! The on-line booking system is discriminatory as there are many people who do not have a computer/or feel the need to obtain on because of age etc. I have never found more than half a dozen people ahead of me in any check-in queue, possibly because I do not travel to places where multitudes are drawn or go in school holidays. Customers should be given the choice but not charged extra because they prefer the personal service.
EB
Ron you cannot complain about parking charges at airport it is totally free no matter how long your there sign mr beans shopping trolley or similar
EG
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Weather for Isle of Man
Thursday 09 February 2012
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