The Manx Government does not have the option of stepping in to buy airport slots at Manchester or Birmingham following the collapse of Flybe.

Chief Minister Howard Quayle was asked what action the government had taken to protect landing slots at Manchester and Birmingham airports to secure continuity of services.

But Mr Quayle said only airline companies have the legal right to buy a landing slot.

The slots were used previously by Flybe but have been returned to the worldwide airport slots group of the International Air Transport Association, which controls airport slots allocations.

The same restrictions applied to all London airports and Bristol airport too.

’Any available slots are allocated by this group to both legacy and new carriers,’ he said, adding that the slots could form part of the liquidation of Flybe.

’As such, the government can take no action. Only airlines can hold or use slots.’

He said that slots were still available at the airports served by Flybe ’in sufficient number for any new operator to be able to operate a schedule very close to the timings of the one operated by Flybe if they so choose’.

The issue was raised by Jason Moorhouse (Arbory, Castletown and Malew).

Scottish airline Loganair has taken over Flybe’s Liverpool route on an interim basis but has said it is in advanced talks over the Manchester and Birmingham routes too.

However the Covid-19 crisis has seen a huge drop-off in air passenger numbers.

Collapsed airline Flybe owes the Manx government more than £300,000 in unpaid landing fees, it was revealed earlier this month.

As yet the Treasury does not know the exact figure owed. Customs and Excise is waiting for the most recent return from Flybe in respect of air passenger duty.

Flybe submitted and paid in full January’s APD return for an amount totalling £155,577 but its February return was not due for filing until March 20.

The Department of Infrastructure impounded a Flybe-operated Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, worth about £4 million, in effect arresting it until outstanding amounts are paid.