BUDGET airline easyJet confirmed in February that it would be starting a service from Liverpool to the Island.
The airline will fly an airbus 319, which seats up to 156 passengers, six times a week (excluding Tuesdays) from May 21.
Rival airlines did not welcome the announcement with Flybe, who also fly to Liverpool John Lennon airport, stating in a promotion: "Others will come and go – Flybe is 100 percent committed to the Isle of Man.
"Whilst other airlines will come and go with a flash in the pan and ad-hoc flights to the UK regions Flybe is committed to providing great value fares and dedicated permanent travel links to island communities around the UK."
Manx2.com chairman Noel Hayes also called for the government to develop a long term aviation strategy for the Island.
He said: "Manx2.com always welcomes fair competition and I'm sure the arrival of easyJet will bring short term benefits to the Isle of Man.
"However I believe this highlights the need for government to put in place a long term aviation strategy for our Island rather than the current 'free for all' open skies strategy which results in continuous instability and frequent changes in operators.
"In the last three years alone five airlines have stopped operations into the Island. Stability of operations would encourage long term investment in route development and pay dividends.
"Currently an airline comes to the Island there is generally a price war and then one is pushed out bringing us back to where we started or worse.
"easyJet will only be indirectly competing with Manx2.com but as a locally owned and locally based provider of Isle of Man air links I believe the stability of a planned aviation strategy is essential for a community which depends upon maintenance of essential transport links."
