Airport officials say they are pleased with September's passenger figures, which were almost the same as those for the same month last year.

So far this year 40,000 fewer passengers have passed through Ronaldsway than in the first nine months of 2008, but new statistics show the figure for September was down by just 200.

Airport Director Ann Reynolds says that after a disappointing August, September has shown encouraging signs, with traffic two per cent above predictions.

She says in particular the routes to London have started to show a promising rise.