Residents have voiced their anger at EasyJet prices for trips between Ronaldsway and Liverpool.

They have pointed to an ’astronomical’ hike in EasyJet prices for return trips this March, some of which could have set them back by more than £400.

Some believe prices have soared in response to the collapse of Flybe on Thursday.

However, the airline states that this is not the case as its flight prices are ’demand-led’.

Troubled Flybe’s demise, brought on in part by a lack of demand due to coronavirus fears, has left the island with no flights to Manchester or Birmingham. However, there are still flights to Liverpool but only on EasyJet.

As the Examiner went to press, the EasyJet website showed that flying from the island to Liverpool John Lennon Airport this Wednesday at 3.25pm would cost you £269.99 and returning to the Isle of Man on Saturday at 6.45pm would cost you £281.99.

This return trip would cost £551.98 altogether.

A ticket from Ronaldsway to Liverpool on March 18 was going for more than £400 before seats sold out.

The lowest outgoing EasyJet flight in March was advertised for £20.99 on March 28 and the lowest incoming flight was £42.99 on March 16.

There are no EasyJet flights to Liverpool on Tuesdays for the rest of the month.

Richard Bedford, of Castletown, contacted the Examiner to say that the rise in prices were totally unacceptable.

He said: ’When I was considering flying to Liverpool in the afternoon of Thursday, March 19, for a possible private medical appointment returning in the afternoon of Friday, March 20, EasyJet’s charges were astronomical at £469.99 for their outgoing flight and £200.99 for the return.

’These fares seem to be totally unacceptably greedy exploitation of the coronavirus crisis.’

He added: ’I was horrified [to see the prices]. I’m in a position where I could pay that money, but what about the people that couldn’t?

’I expect the fares to go up when there is a shortage of seats, but they shouldn’t be taking it out on their customers.’

An EasyJet spokesman said: ’As with all airlines, our pricing is demand-led, which means that as more seats are booked on a flight the price will rise so our fares start low and increase the closer it is to the date of departure.

’The fares highlighted are a direct result of high demand for flights due to convenient scheduled flight times so fares automatically increase as seats on the aircraft are booked. We do not artificially increase ticket prices.

’EasyJet currently has fares available throughout March from the Isle of Man to Liverpool starting from £25.99.’

The Department of Health and Social Care is looking for a solution for patient transfers following the collapse of Flybe, which it held a contract to fly patients to England.

A spokesman from the DHSC said: ’Due to the disruption caused by the Flybe collapse, a number of patients are choosing to reschedule non-urgent hospital appointments to a later date.

’Travel to urgent appointments is being rescheduled by ferry or in some cases EasyJet flights, if available.

’It is very early days at this stage to review the short term financial impact for DHSC with our focus on working with the Department of Infrastructure on a sustainable solution for our patients.’

The health department announced on its website that it contacted UK hospitals in regards to cancelled Flybe flights as well as affected patients.