Airport director Ann Reynolds has confirmed she is leaving her job later this year.

She has been 15 years in the busy role based at Ronaldsway.

For nearly eight of those years she has also been director of ports, accountable for the island’s harbours and coastguard.

She told the Examiner last night (Tuesday): ’I gave in my notice after having worked tirelessly for 15 years for Isle of Man Government and am looking to finish on October 31, giving the department time to look for a suitable replacement.

’At the moment it’s business as usual as there is lots to do over the next five months.’

It is understood she has already told her staff at the airport about her decision.

Back in 2006 it was announced the new director of Ronaldsway Airport was Ann Reynolds, who had served as temporary operations manager and projects manager at the facility since the previous November.

A source told the Examiner that ’it has not all been smooth sailing’ in recent years for Mrs Reynolds and the airport not least because of the coronavirus crisis of the last 15 months.

The source added that she would have been faced with a heavy workload after taking on the role of being accountable for the harbours and coastguard on top of the airport.

Mrs Reynolds initially held the position of airport director designate and worked with outgoing director Phil Pain for four months, before taking over at the end of April in 2006.

She was born in Portsmouth and began her career in aviation in 1984.

Mrs Reynolds held various positions at Southampton and Sheffield airports and more recently was managing director of two airports in Germany, from her base in the Black Forest.

Mr Pain retired after 18 years at the helm.

Local internet chat forums had been buzzing with rumours and speculation.