THE island is to get a further Costa Coffee franchise outlet.
Improvements to the departure lounge at Isle of Man Airport will see the current small bar area enlarged to become a Costa Coffee with an adjoining but separate bar area.
Work will begin after Easter and is expected to take two to three weeks to complete.
There have also been recent improvements to the landside retail facilities at Ronaldsway.
Caterleisure Group, the company who won the tender last year for operating the airport’s retail outlets, has refurbished Café Oasis incorporating for the first time a deli-bar.
Meanwhile the landside shop is now branded WH Smith.
Caterleisure will operate the Costa Coffee franchise in the departure lounge.
Airport bosses had considered incorporating branded operations at the terminal three years ago. However, the end of the previous retail contract was looming and so the plan, which would require major investment by the new retail partner, was put on hold and incorporated into the tender process.
Both the landside shop and café look significantly improved and have a much better selection of goods, incorporating many Manx products, said airport director Ann Reynolds.
She said: ‘We are very pleased with the landside changes and to see WH Smith at the Airport and look forward to completing the airside facilities. There will be some inconvenience to passengers in the departures lounge, for which we apologise in advance and thank the public for their patience.’
Infrastructure Minister David Cretney said he is delighted that the facilities at the airport match those that can be found at the Sea Terminal.
He said: ‘There have been many changes and improvements at the airport, and not just with the airfield infrastructure.
‘The services inside the terminal for passengers are also very important in terms of choice and customer service, as well as the need to raise customer spend.
‘With short times to dwell there is little opportunity for retail purchases so having these well known branded outlets facilities, should improve the passenger experience and choice.’
There are three other Costa outlets in the island – one at Strand Street, a second at the Sea Terminal and a third which has recently opened in Ramsey.