A row has erupted between two airlines operating in the Isle of Man after proposals for two new routes were announced.

Flybe/Loganair is adding flights from the Island to Blackpool and Belfast, but Manx 2.com, which operates on the routes, says they are already well served.

Manx2.com claims its rival is seeking a monopoly in the north-west region, and has asked the Office of Fair Trading to investigate.

Spokesman James Fillieul believes it may be a case of predatory competition.

He told Manx Radio:

"Our opposition to this is that we feel the OFT in the Isle of Man needs to investigate the proposal by Flybe, just to make sure that the Island is opening itself up to potential predatory competition.

"In the long term this will actually reduce competition on routes - rather than create competition, which is obviously a good thing.

"We just want to make sure that the Island is heading in the right direction."

Loganair is rejecting any claim its actions are unfair.

The airline's Commercial Director Jonathan Hinkles says it is entitled to offer the flights under the Island's Open Skies policy.

He says there is no case to answer, and told Manx Radio:

"I genuinely cannot see how the OFT can take any issue where we are coming in and breaking an existing monopoly on flights to Belfast, which is what manx2.com have.

"How the OFT could be expected to protect an existing monopoly that is in place on those routes is simply beyond me.

"We can't see that there is any case to answer with the OFT, but if they ask us we will very happily respond to it."