Stansted is set to welcome its ninth new airline in the past 12 months, as Manx2.com launches its operation at the airport. Daily flights to the Isle of Man will start this Saturday, October 28, with a twice daily service Monday-Thursday, three flights on a Friday and single flights at the weekend.
The new Manx2.com service will not only link the island's business communities direct to the East of England, with its booming economy, but also give islanders connections to the airport”s vast European and transatlantic route network across 35 countries.
Stansted Airport”s business development and planning director Nick Barton is enthusiastic. "Washington, New York, Islamabad and Karachi were some of the long haul links to join our growing network in the past year. Toronto and Las Vegas are due to start soon, and with Turkish Airlines daily flights linking passengers to Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore, Japan and Bangkok through its Istanbul hub, the opportunity for long haul connections from Stansted just keeps growing".
Alternative routes to the Isle of Man from London include Aer Arann from Luton, British Airways from Gatwick, and both Euromanx and VLM from London City.
Manx2.com is the brainchild of Noel Hayes (pictured right), who used to run Rockhopper based in Alderney (now Blue Islands with whom Noel now has no connection with), and James Filleul, a former Channel Islands reporter for the BBC. Jetstream 31 pressurised aircraft form the nucleus of the fleet. They launched the airline with a service from Leeds Bradford to the Isle of Man in August and have added Belfast International and Blackpool to Douglas since.
Image: Manx2.com communications director James Filleul (left) and Manx2 chairman Noel Hayes