Eastern Airways is to drop the Isle of Man to Belfast route just four days after the conclusion of the 2018 TT.
This will also affect the airlines flights from Isle of Man to Glasgow and Newcastle, and the Belfast City to Newcastle service, which all operate on the same plane, which makes several stops.
An Eastern Airways spokesperson told the Examiner: ’Regrettably, Eastern Airways will be suspending its services from the Isle of Man to Belfast City from June 12, following the announcement that EasyJet will be starting year-round flights between the island and Belfast.’
The Belfast route has proved problematic for airlines, Eastern only began operating the route, which originates in Newcastle, in September of last year following the liquidation of CityWing.
.jpeg?width=209&height=140&crop=209:145,smart&quality=75)
Eastern Airways also wished to quash rumours circulating online that its five-year partnership arrangement with Flybe was at risk, saying ’there is absolutely no change to the franchise arrangement with Flybe’.
The partnership was announced last October: Eastern Airways will be operating under the Flybe brand, enabling passengers to book tickets through the Flybe website and check in online.
The loss of daily flights to Belfast in favour of the EasyJet service which will begin on June 22 with two return flights a week, on Monday and Friday, raises further questions over the open skies policy.
change
The decision represents another fall in daily flights from Ronaldsway as larger planes like EasyJets replace smaller regional aircraft on a less regular service.
Eastern Airways concluded: ’Passengers affected with bookings on routes from the Isle of Man to Belfast and Glasgow will be offered alternative flights via Manchester with Flybe or offered a full refund.’
The Examiner contacted the Department of Infrastructure and airport director Anne Reynolds but received no response.