An announcement is expected imminently on plans by Loganair to launch services between London Heathrow and the Isle of Man.

The Manx government is considering whether the taxpayer should foot the bill for daily flights to Heathrow until the border reopens.

Loganair’s managing director Jonathan Hinkles said the island is an ’increasingly important part’ of the Scottish carrier’s network.

UK Aviation News quotes sources close to the airline who said that if approved the flights are expected to begin soon using a 49-seat Embraer jet to operate the twice-daily service.

Meanwhile flights to London City appear to be stopping at the end of November according to the company website, but you can still book routes to Liverpool and Manchester beyond this date.

Loganair has been rapidly expanding its domestic UK market and is aiming to fill the space left by Flybe.

It recently announced five new destinations from Teesside Airport.

Loganair became an independent airline in 2017 after its long-standing franchise agreement with Flybe ended.

Loganair took over the Isle of Man to Manchester and Liverpool routes in March this year, following Flybe’s demise.

It has also been operating the patient transfer service to Liverpool.

In another airline news site called Anna Aero, Jonathan Hinkles, managing director of Loganair, said: ’Our core is still Scotland and Newcastle, plus the Isle of Man now.’

Loganair has three core non-stop routes this winter - Liverpool, London City, and Manchester.

Mr Hinkles said: ’Our operations base in the Isle of Man is already set up. We don’t want to create a new base anywhere else.’

The fact that the London City route appears to be coming to an end has revived speculation that a new Heathrow route is coming.

The carrier did temporarily operate Isle of Man to Heathrow when London City was closed because of coronavirus.

Mr Hinkles told the aviation news website: ’We’ve operated to London City for some time, but the Isle of Man Government has a long-standing ambition to be reconnected with Heathrow.’

The now defunct Flybe operated the route between April and October 2019, with a once-daily service using Dash-8-400s.

Mr Hinkles said: ’We’re still working on the route. We’re in discussions with the island’s government about it, but it must be part of a long-term plan. Our objective must be about the longer-term.’

Meanwhile, passengers from the island travelling to Liverpool are finding things very different to usual.

Because of the current Covid restrictions business travel only is permitted for English residents, so the majority of flights have ceased to operate for the current lockdown period and in some cases and beyond.

A source said the majority of retail and food and beverage outlets have closed and all other services are operating reduced capacity to cover scheduled departure and arrival windows only.

It is understood service partners and providers have had to furlough or make staff redundant as they are estimated to be well down on prior year in terms of flights and passengers.