Just a fortnight after Citywing warned the Isle of Man Government economic policy review committee that open skies is putting the Island’s lifeline air routes at risk, the news that Flybe is in discussions to sell the Island’s Gatwick slots is confirmation of that risk if ever it was needed.
Managing Director of Citywing, David Buck: “Politicians need to wake up to the risks of having no control over who, where or when flights operate in to the Isle of Man or risk the Island being left with a second class route network. A decade ago Guernsey realised the danger of losing its Gatwick slots and secured them. Now is the time for the Isle of Man to regain control of its air links.”
At their appearance before the review committee in mid-April, Citywing flagged the dangers of over-capacity on lifeline air routes. Referring to the competition between easyJet and Flybe on the Liverpool and Gatwick routes Noel Hayes, Chairman of Citywing said: “On no route have two operators co-existed for a protracted period of time. One will withdraw – I can’t say which operators and I can’t say when. Both are waiting for the other to blink.”
Mr Hayes, who gave evidence alongside Citywing’s Managing Drector David Buck, explained that he supported the general principle of open skies but with reservations, suggesting a half-way house between the open skies approach and the closed skies policy as adopted in Guernsey where there is state-owned airline.
David Buck commented further: “It is essential that the Isle of Man Government puts in place a mechanism for encouraging long term investment in route development and discourages short-term predatory actions or route developments that are not in the Island’s best long term interest.”
Visit Citywing’s website www.citywing.com for full information and to keep up to date with our latest news.
