Airline Flybe held an open day as part of a recruitment drive for its new island base.

The new base will reopen in April, six years after it closed with the loss of 49 jobs.

Flybe wants to appoint 18 new staff including senior cabin crew with at least 12 months’ experience.

An open day was held at the Mannin Hotel in Douglas on Tuesday, where those interested in a career with the airline could meet with members of crew and management.

The event will be followed by assessment days held on Tuesday and Wednesday next week (November 27 and 28).

Successful applicants will then begin training in the New Year.

Jon Sharpe, Flybe’s senior recruitment manager, said: ’It went really well.

’There were around 30 attendees on Tuesday, with 11 being picked for the assessment days next week.

’Keeping in mind that we have a fairly strict set of criteria regarding capability, safety, professionalism and genuine interest in the role, this was a really good result.

The hotel were superb as well, providing a room and refreshments for free. So all round, it was a very warm welcome back from the Isle of Man!’

The board of Flybe confirmed this month that it was in discussions with a number of strategic operators about a potential sale of the company.

However, the Exeter-based regional airline says it remains committed to the island’s routes.

It insisted it is ’business as usual’ with flights unaffected.

A spokesman said: ’Our plans to re-open our Isle of Man base in April next year is going ahead as planned as is our cabin crew recruitment programme.’