flybe. (2002) (Exeter) has confirmed it intends to reopen its base at Isle of Man Ronaldsway Airport with effect from April of next year.
The UK regional carrier currently maintains an ATR72 base at the airport albeit through a wet-lease agreement with Stobart Air (Dublin International) which offers flights to/from Birmingham, GB, Liverpool, and Manchester International.
"Flybe can confirm that the arrangement it has with franchise partner, Stobart Air, for the [Liverpool and Manchester] routes will end next year," an airline spokesman told ch-aviation in an emailed statement. "With effect from March 31, 2019, both [routes] will continue on Flybe’s own 78-seat Bombardier Dash 8-400 aircraft from a newly-established base."
Flybe also serves the Isle of Man from Belfast City, Glasgow International, and Newcastle, GB via Eastern Airways (T3, Humberside), another franchisee. A weekly service to Geneva is conducted using its own Dash 8-400s.
