Flybe has confirmed it is ending direct flights between Ronaldsway and Southampton – just two months after the service was relaunched.
And it has urged passengers to support its remaining routes to and from the island.
Loss of the Southampton service is the latest blow for the island’s airport which lost direct flights to both Edinburgh and Glasgow this month, will see the London City route reduced to one flight a day from September – while a question mark hangs over the frequency of flights to Gatwick once Flybe pulls out from there from the end of March next year, leaving easyJet as the only operator.
Flybe blamed disappointing passenger numbers for its decision to pull the plug on its direct Southampton flights after July 21.
The service had only resumed on May 1 after being dropped at the end of February last year.
In a statement the airline said: ‘Flybe currently operates seven routes from the Isle of Man and does carefully review the viability of its 190-plus route network on a regular basis looking not only at passenger numbers but also at external cost pressures.
‘As a result of such recent review, the airline today confirms the return in May of its three times a week service between the Isle of Man and Southampton service has unfortunately failed to meet renewed expectations.
‘As a result, it will no longer operate this route after July 21. All passengers booked after this date will be contacted and offered an alternate flight to Southampton via its Manchester hub or alternatively offered a full refund.
‘Flybe very much regrets demand for this route has not been forthcoming and hopes the remaining services it operates to and from the Isle of Man with a choice of up to 202 flights a week will continue to be supported in the future in line with its continued commitment to contributing to regional economies.’
