IOM-LPL with Emerald is 5x daily and quite cheap.

http://www.flyjem.com

Personally I think Flybe have got it wrong.

I understand where they are coming from, but if they served complimentary tea/coffee/water it would provoke pax into paying for a snack to go with their drink.

I doubt that tea/coffee would cost very much; it’s more the food that adds up in cost terms.

I also think that another way of paying for inflight service must be found. Scrambling for coins in steerage seats is not much fun and is the main reason I don’t normally buy anything. I’d suggest a system like at hotels, where your credit card is swiped by reception before you check in.

true!

Saab 340 isn’t it?

Manx were part of the “Airlines of Britain” group headed by Sir Michael Bishop (of BMI fame). Operating as “Manx Airlines Europe” they built up the IOM-based fleet and started developing a mini hub at CWL. A fleet of J31’s operated to/from Cardiff. They were the launch customer for the 146, I believe. I flew on it when I was knee high to a grasshoper: G-OJET, a 146-100 that is now so antique that it had a wire antenna linking the tail to the fuselage!

They were probably also one of the first cariers to operate the J41 and the ATP.

When I moved to the Isle of Man in mid 2000, they operated the following routes, all ex-IOM:

LHR (146-200)
LTN (146-200 and ATP)
MAN (ATP)
LPL (ATP)
BHX (ATP and J41)
DUB (ATP and J41)
LBA (J41)
GLA (ATP and J41)

Direct IOM-JER flight were also starting (initially J41, later with the ATP).

They have a surprisingly short history, dating only from the early 1980’s. Earlier “manx” airlines were all short lived and provided hotchpotch services.

They have operated a variety of aircraft, with a surprising number of British aircraft:

BAE
J31
J41
ATP
1-11
146-100
146-200

Saab
340

Shorts
330
360

Vickers
Viscount

They were sold on to British Regional Airlines, an independent carrier which operated as a BA franchisee. When BA purchased British Regional, Manx Airlines passed into BA ownership and was renamed BA CitiExpress IOM. The branding was dropped in favour of BA branding. All the routes were scrapped except IOM-MAN and LTN. The LHR service was terminated with a new 3-times daily schedule to LGW established. Loganair/BA did introduce a EDI service but it’s a bit of a joke: no weekend flights.

In mid 2000, the fleet consisted of 3 ATP’s, a J41 and a 142. More aircraft were actually owned, but were sub-leased to other parts of the parent company.

The scrapping by BA of so many routes has created a shortage of capacity. A start up airline, EuroManx, is the new “flag carrier”. Unfortunately Euromanx is v.v.v. expensive.

Recently, an old local player, Emerald Airways (they used to fly IOM-LPL in the 90’s using HS-748s) has re-emerged. One way IOM-LPL for £18.50 incl. taxes.

Whats more, these fares are actually available!!! They use ATP’s, so this type is still a regular sight in the Isle of Man.

Other carriers have also expaned from IOM. At the moment, we have:

BA (MAN, LTN, LGW): Dash 8 and 142.
Flybe (LCY, BHD, BHX and JER via LCY) Dash 8-200, -300, -400 and 143.
EuroManx (LPL, DUB, STN, EDI, GLA) Beech 1900D, ATR42
Aer Arran (DUB) ATR42
Flykeen (Blackpool) EMB-110
BritishNorthWest (Blackpool) EMB-110
Emerald (LPL) ATP
Loganair (EDI) SF340

And the moral of the lesson is:

If you want comfort or quality, don’t bother with a charter airline or a package deal!

9 abreast on an A330 is farcical. What next…7 abreast on a 737?!

PS – it isn’t only the charters. Emirates fly 3-4-3 on their 777s 😮

Hope they do an Air Zimbabwe!

Agreed. I sometimes don’t even use the PTV, except the map display. The screens are too poor for quality viewing – grain-o-rama in economy.

And the number of faulty units I’ve had – BA, SAA, VS and even EK recently. One in every 3 or 4 flights seems me staring at a useless IFE box.

I do like the camera views you can get on some aircraft – I loved watching the landings when I flew with Emirates recently. Captivating!

How was that taken??