MORE than 72,000 passengers travelled through Ronaldsway Airport last month – making it the most successful June in four years.
Figures released show that 72,500 passengers used the airport in June - an increase of 6.5 per cent from the previous year.
There was also a 12 per cent increase in the number of passengers who travelled through the airport during the TT period compared to the same time last year.
Infrastructure Minister Phil Gawne MHK said: "Whilst I am delighted that the airport has benefited from a highly successful TT this year, I am particularly pleased to note that the recent underlying trend of declining air traffic was not reflected last month.
"We have been watching carefully traffic performance as our recent passenger numbers have struggled in the face of tough austerity measures in UK and really for the first time this year we are seeing some positive signs of improvement."
The North West routes proved the busiest in June with the Liverpool route, which is operated by easyJet and Flybe, showing an increase of 3,600 passengers which is 28 per cent more than in 2010.
The Manchester route, operated by Flybe, was used by 1,360 passengers and the Blackpool route, operated by Manx2.com, was used by 2,240 passengers.
Other routes that performed well included the Belfast City and Southampton routes which were both up more than 50 per cent. Gloucester was up by 11 per cent, Leeds and Jersey by more than eight per cent and Birmingham by five per cent.
Airport director Ann Reynolds said charter traffic had played an important role in the positive figures with almost 1,800 passengers flying to and from the airport on charter flights.
She explained: "Only two months ago charter passenger traffic through the airport was just over 200 passengers for the month. Our comprehensive selection of holiday destinations for 2011 have sold outstandingly well and the result has been that almost eight times as many passengers have flown on our charter services during June as we had in April.
"This has exceeded expectations to the point that one operator Atlantic Holidays has, over the last few days, decided to launch an additional flight to their specialist destination Madeira in October this year."
Ms Reynolds said it had been a tough first half of the year for domestic air travel but said the positive figures could be the first indication of a possible reversal of recent trends.
Minister Gawne added: "Our airlines are telling us that whilst the leisure traffic is still difficult to attract – primarily because the tight financial situation amongst many families - business traffic is beginning to show signs of improvement."
