Airline EasyJet is targeting September 1 as the date it intends to resume flights to and from the island.

The company suspended flights as lockdown tightened and the island’s borders effectively closed.

Since then, there have been false dawns as it appeared flights would be returning first in June and then July before both proposed restart dates came and went without any orange planes returning to Manx skies.

The airline had even been selling flights on its website.

Now, according to the airline’s website, flights between Ronaldsway and Liverpool and London Gatwick are due to resume on September 1.

A spokesman from EasyJet told the Manx Independent: ’Due to the travel restrictions in place for flights to the Isle of Man, our flying programme to and from the island continues to be under review.

’We are currently planning on resuming flights on September 1 should the restrictions be lifted and by which time we anticipate seeing sufficient levels of demand having returned.

’We continue to operate a rolling programme of cancellations as we consolidate our schedule with customer demand and so any customers whose flights to and from the Isle of Man have been cancelled will be notified and provided with their options which include transferring to an alternative flight free of charge, a voucher for the value of the booking, or a refund.’

While EasyJet is aiming for a September return and Loganair is continuing to operate flights between the island and Liverpool, Manchester and London City, Aer Lingus is currently advertising flights on its website for the island.

The Irish airline is showing flights can be booked between Ronaldsway and Dublin as of August 20.

A spokesman for Stobart Air, which operates the route, said: ’Stobart Air is reviewing our future operating schedule on an ongoing basis having regard to the guidance from relevant governments in relation to when we will be able to operate particular routes.’