Passenger watchdog TravelWatch has expressed its disappointment at Flybe’s decision to close its base in the island after just five months.

But it said the loss of the Heathrow route was not unexpected - as it was only ever used to retain its valuable slot at Britain’s biggest airport until a more lucrative long haul service took over.

Flybe announced last week that it is ending flights to Heathrow after just one season - and closing its Isle of Man base which only reopened in April.

TravelWatch spokesman Terry Liddiard, former boss of Manx Airlines, said Heathrow was never likely to continue beyond October.

He explained: ’The Heathrow service was only ever a "slot sitting"exercise, the most cost effective way of keeping hold of a valuable slot for a long haul requirement within the new group, and it was never expected to continue beyond October.’

He added: ’However, the decision to again close the Isle of Man base is a very disappointing move for the island, and devastating for the crews who, having been forced to move off-island some years ago, were so delighted to be back to reopen the base only five months ago.’

Mr Liddiard said it was fortunate that Flybe’s other services to the island would continue, albeit using contracted ATR aircraft, which he said were ’smaller and less suited’ to Isle of Man operations and particularly the NHS patient transfer needs.

Flybe said its Isle of Man base will be closed under a ’phased and managed programme’ to be completed by the start of summer 2020.

Its routes to Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham will continue as will the patient transfer service operated under contract with the Department of Health and Social Care.

The airline, which was acquired by Connect Airways in the summer, said the changes follow a ’thorough review of its future fleet and network plans’.

In a new commercial arrangement with Stobart Air, the airline’s two DeHavilland Q400 aircraft will be replaced by more ’economically viable’ ATR 72-600s, which it said are more suitable for these shorter routes.

The first ATR is planned to enter service on January 5 next year, followed by a second ATR on March 29, when Stobart Air will assume full Isle of Man operations and continue to operate these routes.

It’s a move that means that Flybe will no longer require a physical base for its crew in the Isle of Man.

In a statement, the Department of Infrastructure said: ’We are pleased there’s been no change to the island’s key routes to Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham and that the aircraft serving those flights will continue to be based in the island overnight.

’The company provides a valued service for the island, and we look forward to continuing a strong working relationship.’

Mark Anderson, chief executive officer of Connect Airways, visited the island to meet Infrastructure Minister Ray Harmer, Tim Baker MHK, director of ports Ann Reynolds and deputy airport director Jez Spake to outline the changes and future plans.

The daily Heathrow service, which was introduced as part of the summer 2019 schedule, will see its last flight on Saturday, October 26.

Connect Airways, a consortium led by Richard Branson’s Virgin Atlantic, paid a total of £2.8m for Flybe’s assets and operations earlier this year.

Flybe closed its island base in 2014 but reopened it on March 31 this year, having recruited staff for its new base.