Local News

Hi everyone – sorry I’ve been quiet these last 4 months, but life has been hectic. Anyway I thought I’d report some long overdue local news, although I’m certain some/all of it has been posted by some bright spark already!

My local airport (Isle of Man: IOM) has seen British Airways scaling back and others stepping into action.

BA has/is about to scrap the following routes ex-IOM:

DUB
BHX
LPL (BA will then have totally abandoned LPL)

The LTN and LGW routes will remain, with 1x / 3x daily frequencies (as at present) using a 146-200.

The MAN route will change from 3x daily with an ATP to 5x daily with a Dash-8.

Eastern Airways fly to LBA and, shortly, to BHX using J-41’s.

Aer Arran fly to DUB and PIK using an ATR-42.

Flybe fly to BHD, BRS and LCY using a combo of Dash-8 and 146’s.

Flykeen fly to Blackpool using an EMB-110.

EuroManx fly to DUB, EDI, GLA and EMA and LPL using Beech 1900D’s and for the LPL route an ATR-42.

So, the once ATP-dominated Isle of Man is waving farewell to these aircraft. I think that Emerald Airways (a cargo outfit which deafens me frequently with their screeching HS-748’s) is taking at least some ATP’s. Presumably for cargo conversion, though I think they will look at resuming pax activity at least to LPL.

BA is rotating their local fleet like crazy, presumably in the run-up to retiring the ATP. The locally based ATP’s are infrequent visitors now; my last flight (last weekend, to MAN) was on G-MAUD instead of the usual G-MANA/MANB/MANC.

I haven’t many trips planned in the next few months, save a long weekend in Barcelona with BA/Ryanair and a fortnight in Melbourne with whichever airline looks the best (1-stop on EK as long as I can avoid those terrible 10-abreast 777’s!!!). I’ll post some reports if I can.