Regional business to benefit from new Manx2.com routes

REGIONAL business hubs stand to benefit from the new routes due to be opened up by Manx2.com, the Isle of Man airline whose twice-daily Cork- Belfast route enjoyed load factors regularly exceeding 60% last year.

Manx2.com’s new services from Belfast to Galway and Blackpool, England, will increase the travel options for business and leisure travellers. New revenue will certainly be needed at Ireland’s regional airports, faced with the withdrawal of the Government’s public service obligation (PSO) supports in July.

Manx2.com chairman Noel Hayes said: “We have been expanding our Irish operations for the past five years. The writing was on the wall for the PSOs coming to an end. We feel that there is a need to maintain connectivity throughout the island of Ireland.

“We have had huge support from Cork Chamber and the Belfast business community for the Cork to Belfast service. We are disappointed with the Government’s comments on Galway Airport, saying people can drive to Dublin instead.

“We are talking to the regional airports to see if our model of 12,000 passengers a year per route can work for them. The larger airlines seem to need 30,000 or 40,000 passengers to make a profit from a route.

“We think that serving, say, 2,000 people in Galway or Donegal could still potentially be a successful market for us.”

Founded in the Isle of Man 10 years ago, Manx2. com now carries 100,000 passengers a year. The airline’s new weekend leisure traveller Galway-Belfast service has departures from Galway at 16.55pm on Fridays, returning at 3pm from Belfast on Sundays.

The airline has launched a double daily service between Belfast and Blackpool and its new Isle of Man schedule offers four daily departures from Belfast.

Mr Hayes said: “Regional airports have a critical role to play for tourism and business in these difficult times.”