TravelWatch, the Island’s passenger watchdog, have welcomed the announcement that flybe are to introduce a year round IOM / London Stansted service with up to 3 flights a day starting in March 2015. Stating this should do much to offset the shortage of capacity and frequency between the Island and London / SE England which led to a 13% drop in traffic between April and October - although it is still too early to assess the effect it may have on weekend capacity next summer.

Stansted is the fourth busiest airport in UK with over 100 destinations served by Ryanair and 25 by easyjet. Many further holiday destinations are available with Thomas Cook and Thomson Airways.  It has its own railway station under the terminal, with trains to London (Liverpool Street) every 15 minutes during the day taking 47 minutes. There are also trains to Cambridge, Birmingham and Leicester.  To get the best fares, advance booking of railway tickets is recommended. There are frequent coach services into London, to many other cities and to Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

TravelWatch will provide further information about transport links at Stansted airport via its website www.travelwatch-isleofman.org in good time for the service starting.