Loganair will take over the ’important’ route between the Isle of Man and London City airports from September 1.

The airline confirmed to the Manx Independent that it was fully taking over from British Airways, which will cease operations on that date.

Loganair described it as an ’interim provision of scheduled services’ on the route.

The Glasgow-based airline will provide a daily service, with the exception of Saturdays, with tickets now on sale until the end of October.

Loganair, now officially the UK’s largest regional airline after the demise of Flybe, had previously operated the route on behalf of BA City Flyer, but now takes it over as its own service using a 49-seat ATR42-500 turboprop aircraft.

Chief commercial officer Kay Ryan said: ’We understand the importance of this route, and we are pleased to assist the Isle of Man and London by stepping in to ensure this vital link continues uninterrupted.

’Whilst flights are not yet available to book past October 31, we do hope to be able to extend our travel window in the not too distant future.’

Meanwhile, Loganair advises customers who had previously booked with British Airways for flights from the start of September that they must now seek a refund for these tickets and re-book with Loganair at

www.loganair.co.uk.

Before Loganair’s announcement the future of the air route between Ronaldsway and London City had been thrown into the the spotlight again in what has been described as a ’bewildering’ situation by island watchdog Travel Watch.

Island travellers contacted the Manx Independent to say their planned journeys with British Airways to London City had been cancelled from the end of this month. Loganair had flown the route with British Airways branding.

A spokesman for Travel Watch had told the Manx Independent that he was surprised they had not heard anything about the move.

It was his understanding that cash-strapped British Airways had gone to the Isle of Man Government seeking some money to operate the route to London City.

But the two sides could not come to an agreement.

The spokesman said he could understand the frustration of travellers who might have felt ’bewildered’.

In recent weeks British Airways has been at the centre of a lot of speculation over job losses because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Financial Times reported recently that thousands of British Airways staff were braced for job cuts. And the airline was reported to be pushing ahead with restructuring after more than 6,000 applied for voluntary redundancy.