Isle of Man Airlines in the 2000s
 
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Scheduled services and air freight operators 2000 - 2017
 
 Throughout the 2000s, the Isle of Man Government has operated an 'open skies' policy with regard to airline operations to and from the island. Basically this means that any operator that wants to start or discontinue a route can do so without intervention from the government. This has resulted in numerous operators on an ever changing route network. This is an attempt at a short history of passenger and freight operators since 2000.
 
 
Manx Airlines  1982 - 2002
 
An earlier incarnation of Manx Airlines had operated at Ronaldsway in the 1950s, but the name was resurrected in 1982 as a joint venture between British Midland Airways and Air UK to provide services to the Isle of Man.  In 1991 an offshoot was formed to operate non IOM services called Manx Airlines Europe, the name being changed to British Regional Airlines in 1996.  At the start of the decade Manx Airlines was operating a fleet of three BAe ATPs, one BAe 146-200 and one BAe Jetstream 41.  In 2001 British Airways acquired the British Regional Airlines group (including Manx Airlines) and merged it with Brymon Airways to create BA CitiExpress. Amongst other changes introduced, the Isle of Man to London route was moved from Heathrow to Gatwick. 
 
On the 31st August 2002 Manx Airlines ceased to exist.
Manx Airlines ATP G-MANC in 2000
 
Manx Airlines Jetstream 41 G-MAJA in 2000
 
 Manx Airlines 146-200 G-MIMA in 2002
 
Manx Airlines ATP G-MANC in 2002
 
Manx Airlines 146-200 G-MIMA in 2002
 
Last Manx Airlines flight - 31st August 2002
 
 
British Regional Airlines  1996 - 2001
 
Starting from a small base at Cardiff operating BAe Jetstream 31s in 1991 as Manx Airlines Europe, from 1994 it became a franchise operator for British Airways, changing its name to British Regional in 1996 and expanded its fleet and routes, operating 22 Embraer ERJ145s, 14 BAe ATPs, 12 BAe Jetstream 41s and 4 BAe 146s. Aircraft were painted in various version of the British Airways livery. Although not generally operating any Isle of Man Routes (a Friday evening Cardiff route was an exception), the aircraft visited Ronaldsway regularly for maintenance at the large engineering base and also operated services on behalf of Manx Airlines to cover aircraft shortages. In 2001 the company was acquired by British Airways and renamed BA CitiExpress.
 
British Regional ATP G-MANP in 2000
 
British Regional 146-200 G-GNTZ in 2000
 
British Regional Jetstream 41 G-MAJF in 2001
British Regional ERJ145 G-EMBI in 2001
 
 
Jersey European - British European  1979 - 2002
 
Jersey European was originally established in 1979 and in the early 2000s was operating through the Isle of Man on the Blackpool, Belfast and London City Routes. Aircraft used were Bombardier Dash8s and BAe 146s. In June 2000 the airline name was changed to British European. In July 2002 the airline was restructured as a low cost operator and re-named FlyBe with a new colour scheme.
Jersey European Dash8-Q300 G-JEDE in 2000
 
Jersey European 146-200 G-JEAK in 2000
 
British European 146-200 G-JEAK in 2003
 
British European Dash8-Q200 G-JEDZ in 2002
 
 
Emerald Airways  1992 - 2006
 
Originally formed in 1987 as Janes Aviation, but changed name to Emerald in 1992. Mainly a freight operator to the Isle of Man from Liverpool using a large fleet of Avro 748 turboprops, painted in various liveries.  Usually there were three 748s arriving early each morning and departing again in the evening.  Emerald also carried out much of their 748 crew training at Ronaldsway.  A passenger service had been operated for a time in the 1990s between Ronaldsway and Liverpool using 748s and this was revived in May 2004 using British Aerospace ATP aircraft.  In 2005 Euromanx took over the service from Emerald, but continued using Emeralds ATP and crews.  In May 2006 Emeralds Air Operators Certificate (AOC) was suspended by the CAA, effectively closing the airline down.  Most of the 748s were flown to Blackpool Airport but one ATP, G-JEMC was impounded by the Isle of Man Airport and remained parked at Ronaldsway for a while before being flown out.
Avro 748 G-ATMJ in 2000
 
Avro 748 G-BEJD - Reed Aviation colours in 2000
 
Avro 748 G-OSOE in Securicor Omega Express colours - 2004
 
Emerald Avro 748 G-SOEI in Mt Cook Airlines colours - 2004
 
Emerald ATP G-JEMC in the new colour scheme - 2004
 
Avro 748 G-BGMO in the new colour scheme -  2004
 
 
 
Aer Arann  2000 - 2014
Irish operator Aer Arann operated services to the Isle of Man throughout the 2000s, mainly concentrating on the Dublin route but for a while around 2005 had an Isle of Man hub serving Prestwick, London City, London Luton, Manchester and Liverpool. Aircraft types started with the Short 360 and went on to various versions of the ATR42 and 72. From 2006 to 2008 they chartered an ATR72 to EuroManx.  In January 2010 Aer Arann and Aer Lingus formed Aer Lingus Regional and the Aer Arann aircraft started to appear in a new version of the Aer Lingus colour scheme. By then the only IOM route operated was from Dublin. In 2014 the airline changed its operating name and now operates as Stobart Air, still as an Aer Lingus franchise operation.
 
Aer Arann Short 360 EI-BPD in 2000
 
Aer Arann ATR 42-300 EI-CBK in 2003
 
 
Aer Arann ATR42-300 EI-BYO in 2004
 
Aer Arann ATR72-500 EI-REM in 2007
 
Aer Arann ATR42-300 EI-CBK in 2012
Aer Arann ATR72-600 EI-FAU in 2014
 
 
Comed Aviation
 
A small operation based at Blackpool Airport, flying the Blackpool - Isle of Man - Belfast route from the start of the decade using Piper Navajo and Embraer Bandeirante Aircraft but went into administration in March 2001
Comed Bandeirante G-ODUB in 2000
Comed Bandeirante G-ONEW in 2001
 
 
Platinum Air 2000
 
Following the demise of Comed, Platinum started operating the Blackpool - Isle of Man - Belfast Route for a while, starting in February 2001 
using some very smart Jetstream 31 aircraft, occasionally a Beech King Air substituted
Platinum Jetstream 31 G-PLAH in 2001
Platinum Jetstream 31 G-PLAJ in 2001
 
 
Keen Air - FlyKeen
 
After Platinum Air 2000, Keen Air operated the Blackpool route for a while in the early 2000s using Embraer Bandeirante aircraft under the FlyKeen brand. 
One of their former aircraft is preserved (in Manx Airlines colours) at the Manx Aviation Preservation Society site at Ronaldsway.
Keenair Bandeirante G-BGYT in 2002
 
Keenair Bandeirante G-BGYT repainted - 2003
 
Keenair Bandeirante G-FLTY in 2004
Bandeirante G-BGYT preserved in Manx Airlines colours
 
 
 
 BA CitiExpress  2001 - 2006
 
BA CitiExpress was formed in March 2001 when British Airways acquired the British Regional Airlines group and merged it with Brymon Airlines.
BA CitiExpress was renamed as BA Connect in February 2006 with a few aircraft receiving the new branding, but by March 2007 had transferred the business to FlyBe and severed all links to the Isle of Man until commencing services from London City again in 2012.
BA CitiExpress ATP G-MAUD in 2003
 
BA CitiExpress Dash8-Q300 G-BRYW in 2004
 
BA CitiExpress 146-100 G-MABR in 2005
BA CitiExpress ERJ145 G-EMBH in 2005
 
 
FlyBe  2002 - present
 
A renaming and re-structuring of British European in 2002 with a change to a new blue and white colour scheme. 
In March 2007 FlyBe took over British Airways BA Connect operation and established a base at Ronaldsway.  Aircraft fleets were initially merged but over time rationalized leaving FlyBe operating a mixed fleet of Bombardier Dash8-Q400s and Embraer ERJ175 and ERJ195s.  For a while FlyBe had four Dash8-Q400s with crews based at Ronaldsway but in recent years the base was reduced in size and eventually closed down in 2014 with the airline selling its London Gatwick slots to EasyJet and dropping the London route from the Isle of Man, which left just two Dash8s and crews night stopping at Ronaldsway to operate early morning services to Manchester and Liverpool.  The Birmingham route continued but operated out of Birmingham rather than Ronaldsway.  Later in 2014 the airline underwent a restyling exercise with a new purple colour scheme and new cabin crew uniforms.  Since 2016 most of the FlyBe Isle of Man services have been operated by Stobart Air using two IOM based ATR72s painted in FlyBe purple livery.
FlyBe 146-200 G-JEAY in November 2002
 
FlyBe Dash8-Q400 G-JEDI in July 2003
 
FlyBe 146-200 G-JEAS in Air France colours - November 2004
 
FlyBe ERJ195 G-FBEA in January 2007
 
FlyBe ERJ145 G-ERJA in June 2007
 
FlyBe ERJ145 G-EMBL in December 2007
 
FlyBe ERJ175 G-FBJE in June 2012
 
FlyBe Dash8-Q400 G-JECY in May 2014
 
Stobart Air ATR72-500 EI-REL for FlyBe in June 2016
Stobart Air ATR72-500 EI-REM for FlyBe in June 2016
 
 
EuroManx 2002 - 2008
 
In August 2002 a new Isle of Man based airline started operations, with aircraft and flight deck crews provide by Dutch operator Rossair.  Starting using Beech 1900Ds, by 2004 ATR42s were being used on the busier routes, mainly to Liverpool. Unfortunately, Rossair ceased trading in December 2004 leaving EuroManx having to use several different operators to fulfil their services for a while.
Rossair Beech 1900D PH-RAR  - August 2002
 
Rossair Beech 1900D PH-RAR  -  November 2002
 
Rossair Beech 1900D PH-RAT  - July 2003
Rossair ATR42 PH-RAK  - March 2004
 
For the end of 2004 and the first few months of 2005 a variety of operators flew services for EuroManx, a few are seen below
Denim Airways Fokker 50 PH-PPJ - December 2004
 
Atlantic Airways ATR42 G-IONA - January 2005
 
Highland Airways Jetstream 31 G-BTXG - February 2005
 
Club 328 Dornier 328JET - February 2005
 
BMI ATR42-300 G-DRFC - February 2005
 
Flightline 146-300 G-BPNT - March 2005
 
Farnair ATR42 HB-AFD - April 2005
Scot Airways Dornier 328 G-BWWT - April 2005
 
By May 2005 Euromanx had re-structured and was ready to operate its own aircraft and a rather mixed fleet of six aircraft covering three quite different types started to arrive at Ronaldsway, beginning with an Avro RJ70 in April. The fleet eventually consisted of two Avro RJ70s (Irish registered), two Dornier 328s (German registered) and two Bombardier Dash8s (Austrian Registered), one Q200 and one Q300. A third Dash 8 (Q300) intended for the fleet never materialized.
EuroManx Avro RJ70 EI-CPK - April 2005
 
EuroManx Dornier 328 D-CPRW - June 2005
 
EuroManx Dash8-Q300 OE-HBC - July 2005
 
EuroManx Dash8-Q200 OE-HBB - August 2005
 
In June 2005 EuroManx took over the Emerald Airways passenger operation on the Liverpool route. Flights continued to be operated by Emerald ATPs and crews with the aircraft remaining in Emerald colours until the demise of that airline in May 2006.
 
Such a diverse and small fleet must have been difficult to manage and the two RJ85s and Dornier 328s left the fleet in 2006. From July 2006 an ATR72 was chartered in from Aer Arann, Mainly to operate the London City service and usually EI-REJ which was painted in partial Euromanx colours.  EuroManx continued operations using the Dash8s, Aer Arann ATR72 and other leased in aircraft until ceasing operations on Thursday 8th May 2008.
Emerald ATPs G-JEMA & G-JEMC for EuroManx - February 2006
 
Atlantic Airways ATR72 G-HERM for EuroManx - March 2006
 
Aer Arann ATR72 EI-REJ in EuroManx colours - September 2006
Aer Arann ATR72 EI-REI for EuroManx - May 2008
 
 
 
British Northwest Airlines  2003 - 2006
 
Effectively a re-incarnation of Comed Aviation and operating the Blackpool - Isle of Man - Belfast route from 2003, initially with Piper Navajo aircraft, often operating two aircraft on the same service if traffic levels demanded it. Some operations were conducted using other aircraft types. British Northwest ceased trading in 2006.
 
 
British Northwest Navajo G-OBNW
Three aircraft operating the same British Northwest flight
 
 
 
VLM  2005 - 2009 
 
 Belgian operator VLM operated on routes to London City, Liverpool and Brussels (via London City) using Fokker 50 aircraft. In the latter years of operation the flight would arrive from London City in the morning and the aircraft day stop at Ronaldsway before returning to London in the late afternoon.
VLM Fokker 50 OO-VLX in 2005
VLM Fokker 50 OO-VLJ 'Isle of Man' in 2007
 
 
 
Alpha One Airways  2005 - 2006
 
Not sure if this should really count as an airline, but Jetstream 31 G-CCPW appeared with Alpha One titles in November 2005. Apparently a few services were operated linking Ronaldsway and Edinburgh in December 2005 and January 2006 but the business then folded having supposedly carried a total of 46 passengers.
Jetstream 31 G-CCPW with Alpha One titles
Alpha One titles on the nose of Jetstream 31 G-CCPW
 
 
 
BA Connect  2006 - 2007
 
A re-naming by British Airways of their BA CitiExpress operation in February 2006 with some aircraft receiving the new branding before the whole business (excluding London City operations) was transferred to FlyBe in March 2007
BA Connect ERJ145 G-EMBM in 2006
BA Connect Dash8-Q300 G-BRYY in 2006
 
 
 
Air Freight & Postal flight Operators  2006 - 2007
 
With Emerald Airways ceasing operations suddenly in May 2006, another operator had to be found at short notice to operate the Royal Mail flights to and from the island. This was operated for a while by Antonov An26 aircraft, usually by  Latvian company RAF-Avia, but Hungarian company Budapest Air Services also operated some flights.  In February 2007 an ATP appeared on the service, in Magic Bird colours and by April, Atlantic Airways was operating with ATPs
RAF-Avia An26 YL-RAB - May 2006
 
Budapest Air Service An26 HA-TCY - June 2006
 
Raf-Avia An26 YL-RAE - August 2006
 
RAF-Avia An26 YL-RAA - October 2006
 
MNG Fokker F27 TC-MBA - January 2007
Magic Bird ATP G-BTPL - February 2007
 
 
 
Blue Islands  2006 - 2013
 
 Channel Islands based operator Blue Islands flew a direct service between Jersey & Guernsey and the Isle of Man using Jetstream 32 aircraft. 
The service was stopped in February 2013 due to falling passenger numbers.
Blue Islands Jetstream 31 G-ISLB in April 2006
New livery on Blue Islands Jetstream 32 G-ISLD in 2012
 
 
 
 
Manx2.com  2006 - 2013
 
On the 11th July 2006 a new aircraft type appeared at Ronaldsway. It was a Czech built Let 410 turboprop initially the Hungarian aircraft register but soon changed to the Czech register, painted up in Manx2.com colours. This aircraft was joined by another in due course, both being operated by Van Air Europe on behalf of Isle of Man based company Manx2.com. In early 2007 a Metroliner, operated by German company FLM Aviation joined the Lets, followed by Dornier 228s in 2008. Various other companies also operated flights under the Manx2.com banner over the years. On the 1st January 2013, following a management buyout of the company, it was renamed Citywing and continued operations as before, using the Van Air Europe Let410s and Linksair Jetstream 31s.
Van Air Europe for Manx2  Let 410 HA-YFG - July 2006
 
Amber Airways for Manx2  Jetstream 31 G-PLAJ - Sept 2006
 
FLM Aviation for Manx2 Metroliner D-CSAL - March 2007
 
European 2000 for Manx2 Metroliner 9H-AEU - October 2007
 
FLM Aviation for Manx2  Dornier 228 D-IFLM - April 2008
 
Spanish operator for Manx2  Metroliner EC-GPS - April 2009
 
FLM Aviation for Manx 2  Dornier 228 D-CMNX  -  May 2010
 
Van Air Europe for Manx2   Let 410 OK-ASA - December 2010
 
LinksAir for Manx2  Jetstream 31 G-CCPW  -  March 2012
FLM Aviation for Manx 2  Dornier 228 D-ILKA  -  July 2012
 
 
 
Eastern Airways  2003 - 2009
 
 Eastern Airlines started operations in 1997 and in 1999 acquired Manchester based Air Kilroe, operating under their AOC. In March 2003 they acquired a fleet of 12 BAe Jetstream 41 aircraft, together with routes, from British Airways CitiExpress, giving them a small route hub from the Isle of Man. In addition to the Jetstream 41s, Jetstream 31s and occasionally Saab 2000s were used.  This continued in operation until August 2009 when the IOM operation was closed down. Routes operated had included Birmingham, Newcastle and Bristol. From 2012 they have been flying the IOM - London City route on behalf of BA Cityflyer, using a Saab 2000 in British Airways colours.
 
Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 G-MAJC in 2003
 
Eastern Airways Jetstream 32 G-BUVD in 2003
 
Eastern Airways Saab 2000 G-CDEA in 2005
 
Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 G-MAJU in 2006
 
Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 G-MAJM in 2008
Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 G-MAJC in 2009
 
 
 
Loganair  2004 - 2013
 
Loganair had operated flights to Ronaldsway in the 1990s, but after an absence of some years reactivated routes, first in 2004 to Glasgow and then Edinburgh. These were operated under a franchise arrangement with British Airways, but changing to a similar operation with FlyBe in 2008. Aircraft used were almost exclusively Saab 340s but with an occasional appearance by one of the airlines De-Havilland Canada Twin Otters. In June 2012 they started a new route to Norwich Airport, usually using Suckling Airways Dornier 328s, which also appeared from time to time on the Scottish routes.  In early 2013 Loganair announced that after the 2013 TT fortnight they would be stopping all Isle of Man services, leaving the island without a Scottish service until Citywing started a Glasgow service.
Loganair Saab 340 G-LGNE in BA colours - March 2004
 
Loganair Saab 340 G-LGNE in partial FlyBe colours - August 2008
 
Loganair Saab 340 G-LGNF in FlyBe colours - November 2008
 
Loganair Twin Otter G-BZFP - April 2012
 
Suckling Airways for Loganair, Dornier 328 G-BWWT in 2012
Loganair Saab 340 G-LGNN in 2013
 
 
Atlantic Airways/West Atlantic  2007 - present 
Atlantic Airways took over the island mail flights from April 2007 using BAe ATP aircraft converted from passenger to freight configuration. Many of the aircraft are either ex Manx Airlines/British Regional or British Airways aircraft. The regular run comprises arriving at Ronaldsway airport opening time of 06:15 local time with the inbound service from East Midlands airport and departing again in the evening with the outbound service.
 
In 2011, Atlantic Airlines merged with Swedish operator West Air to form West Atlantic, based at Gothenburg although continuing to operate aircraft on the UK, Swedish and Luxembourg registers. Mail services to Ronaldsway still operate under Atlantic Airlines flight numbers and callsigns. One of West Atlantic's stated aims was to retrofit freighter ATPs with a full EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrument System) cockpit. Ironically this was the original intention when the aircraft was first designed by BAe/Avro, but the UK CAA vetoed it as being too revolutionary. When Airbus designed the A320 with such a system, the CAA certificated it!
 
Atlantic Airways ATP G-OOAF in 2007
 
Atlantic Airways ATP G-BTPG in 2009
 
Atlantic Airways ATP G-MANH in 2010
 
Atlantic Airways ATP G-MANM in 2014
 
West Atlantic ATP SE-MHI in 2016
West Atlantic ATP SE-MHH in 2017
 
 
Janes Aviation   2008
 
A rather short lived attempt to revive the deceased Emerald as Janes Aviation saw this Avro 748 freighter appear at Ronaldsway briefly in 2008
 
 
Janes Aviation Avro 748 in October 2008
 
 
EasyJet   2010 -
 
In May 2010, following the lengthening of the main runway at Ronaldsway, EasyJet started operating a Liverpool to Ronaldsway route using Airbus A319 aircraft and in October 2012 added flights to London Gatwick in competition with FlyBe. FlyBe sold its Gatwick slots to EasyJet in 2014 and stopped flying on the route. EasyJet started operating flights between the Isle of Man and Bristol in 2015 and London Luton is being added in 2017.  From time to time the larger Airbus A320 appears on their Isle of Man routes.
 
EasyJet Airbus A319 G-EZBW in 2010
 
EasyJet Airbus A319 G-EZBA in 2012
 
 
EasyJet Airbus A319 G-EZDR in 2016
EasyJet Airbus A320 G-EZOR in 2017
 
 
BA Cityflyer  2012 -
 
In June 2012, British Airways subsidiary BA Cityflyer commenced flying on the London City route, initially using their own Embraer ERJ170 aircraft, but flights were subsequently operated on their behalf by Eastern Airways Saab 2000 aircraft, painted in BA Cityflyer colours and using BA flight numbers.  Over Winter 2013/14 flight were again operated by the ERJ170 but with only a single daily rotation, but from April 2014, with local sponsorship, Eastern resumed flying the route for BA with the Saab 2000 doing three daily rotations.
 
BA Cityflyer ERJ170 G-LCYI in 2012
 
Eastern Saab 2000 G-CDEB, for Cityflyer in 2012
 
BA Cityflyer ERJ190 G-LCYM in 2013
 
BA Cityflyer ERJ170 G-LCYH in 2013
 
Eastern Saab 2000 G-CERZ for Cityflyer in 2014
 
Eastern Saab 2000 G-CDKB for Cityflyer in 2014
 
Eastern Saab 2000 G-CDEB for Cityflyer in 2016
Eastern Saab 2000 G-CDKA for Cityflyer in 2017
 
 
Citywing  2013 - 2017
 
Following a management buyout of Manx2.com in January 2013, the operation was renamed Citywing and the Van Air Europe Let 410s operating most of the services were repainted in a new colour scheme. Routes operated were the same as Manx2.com, to Blackpool, Newcastle, Belfast and Gloucester.  In 2014, after Loganair ceased operating to the Isle of Man, Citywing started a Glasgow service.  In March 2017, the UK CAA withdrew Van Air's operating permissions for the UK following an incident and after a couple of weeks using other chartered in aircraft including a Boeing 737,  Citywing stopped operating. 
Van Air Europe for Citywing  Let 410 OK-ASA in 2012
 
Van Air Europe for Citywing  Let 410 OK-TCA in 2014
 
LinksAir for Citywing  Jetstream 31 G-LNKS in 2014
 
Van Air Europe for Citywing  Let 410 OK-UBA in 2014
 
Van Air Europe Let 410 OK-RDA in 2017
 
Van Air Europe Let 410 OK-UBA in 2017
 
Titan for Citywing Boeing 737 G-POWC in 2017
Sprint Air for Citywing Saab 340 SP-KPR in 2017
 
 
LinksAir  2014
 
Previously operating from the Isle of Man on behalf of Manx2.com and Citywing, LinksAir started services in their own right from Doncaster to Ronaldsway from April 2014 using their Jetstream 31 aircraft.  According to their timetable, this service finished on the 15th September 2014.
LinksAir Jetstream 31 G-GAVA in 2014
 
 
 
Stobart Air  2014 - 
 
 Aer Arran changed its corporate name to Stobart Air in 2014 and flights started to operate under Stobart flight numbers and callsigns from August, continuing the Aer Lingus franchise operation and operating the Dublin to Ronaldsway route in Aer Lingus colours.  The Stobart Group is the airlines largest shareholder, having first acquired a shareholding in the company in 2010.
Stobart Air ATR42-300  EI-CBK in 2014
 
Stobart Air ATR72-600 EI-FAU in 2014
 
Stobart Air ATR72-200 EI-REI in 2016
Stobart Air ATR72-600 EI-FMK in 2017
 
 Unless otherwise credited, all pictures on this website are  © Jon Wornham