Isle of Man Airport

{{Short description|Airport on the Isle of Man}} {{use British English|date=May 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}} {{Infobox airport | name = Isle of Man International Airport | nativename-a = ''Purt Aer Vannin'' | nativename-r = | image = Isle of Man Airport logo.svg | image-width = 250 | image2 = Ronaldsway_Airport_Terminal_Building_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1702198.jpg | image2-width = 250 | caption. = | IATA = IOM | ICAO = EGNS | type = Public | owner = | operator = [[Department of Infrastructure (Isle of Man)|Department of Infrastructure]] | city-served = [[Isle of Man]] | location = [[Ronaldsway]], Malew, Isle of Man | focus_city = [[Loganair]] | elevation-f = 52 | coordinates = {{coord|54|5|0|N|4|37|24|W|type:airport_region:IM|display=inline,title}} | pushpin_map = Isle of Man#United Kingdom | pushpin_label = EGNS | pushpin_map_caption = Location on the Isle of Man##Location between Ireland and Britain | website = [https://www.airport.im/ airport.im] | metric-rwy = Y | r1-number = 08/26 | r1-length-m = 2,110 | r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|Asphalt]]/Concrete | r2-number = 03/21 | r2-length-m = 1,255 | r2-surface = Asphalt | stat-year = 2024 | stat1-header = Passengers | stat1-data = 652,274 | stat2-header = Passenger change 23–24 | stat2-data = {{increase}} 0.45% | stat3-header = Aircraft movements | stat3-data = 15,512 | stat4-header = {{nowrap|Movements change 23–24}} | stat4-data = {{decrease}} 1.2% | footnotes = Source: Statistics from the [[Department of Infrastructure (Isle of Man)]]<ref name="stats">{{Cite web |date=28 January 2024 |title=Isle of Man Airport Monthly Air Traffic Summary |url=https://www.airport.im/media/y3bir3ew/jan-dec-2024-airport-pax-figures.pdf |access-date=28 January 2023 |publisher=[[Department of Infrastructure (Isle of Man)]]}}</ref> }}

'''Isle of Man Airport''' ([[Manx language|Manx]]: ''Purt Aer Vannin'', also known as '''Ronaldsway Airport''') {{Airport codes|IOM|EGNS}} is the main civilian [[airport]] on the [[Isle of Man]]. It is located in the south of the island at [[Ronaldsway]] near [[Castletown, Isle of Man|Castletown]], {{convert|6|NM|lk=in}} southwest of [[Douglas, Isle of Man|Douglas]],<ref name="aip">{{Cite web|title=NATS - AIS - Home|url=http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dblogcategory%26id%3D81%26Itemid%3D130.html|website=Nats-uk.ead-it.com|access-date=4 June 2015|archive-date=7 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307222509/http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dblogcategory%26id%3D81%26Itemid%3D130.html}}</ref> the island's capital. Along with the [[Isle of Man Sea Terminal]], it is one of the two main gateways to the island. The airport has scheduled services to the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]].

==History== [[File:Inspection of RAF Regiment at RAF Jurby, 1942.jpg|thumb|right|Admiral [[Sir Percy Noble]] inspects [[RAF Regiment]] personnel during a visit to RAF Ronaldsway, June 11, 1942.]] [[File:Manx Airlines Vickers Viscount at IoM Ronaldsway.jpg|thumb|right|[[Manx Airlines]] [[Vickers Viscount]] in front of the airport control tower in 1988]] ===Early years=== Ronaldsway was first used as an airfield in 1928<ref>{{Cite web |title=Isle of Man Government - Isle of Man Airport |url=http://www.iom-airport.com/virtual/history/1920/1920.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615091955/http://www.iom-airport.com/virtual/history/1920/1920.xml |archive-date=15 June 2013 |access-date=4 June 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> with passenger services to the UK starting in 1933, operated by [[Blackpool and West Coast Air Services]] (later West Coast Air Services). Further services were established by [[Aer Lingus]] and [[Railway Air Services]] (RAS) from 1934. From 1937 RAS operations from Ronaldsway to the UK were transferred to [[Isle of Man Air Services]]. In a 1936 expansion of the Ronaldsway Airport, workers discovered a mass grave believed to hold the remains of soldiers who died during the [[Battle of Ronaldsway]] in 1275.

===Second World War=== ====RAF Ronaldsway==== The airfield came under [[Royal Air Force]] control at the outbreak of the [[Second World War]]. Known as RAF Ronaldsway, it was one of the few airfields that continued operating civilian flights throughout the wartime period.

The airfield was used by № 1 GDGS (Ground Defence and Gunnery School) operating [[Westland Wallace]] aircraft, the [[drogue]]s from these aircraft being fired on from gun emplacements on [[St Michael's Isle]] (Fort Island) and [[Santon, Isle of Man|Santon]] Head. An expansion of the airport during the War led to the discovery of the archaeological remains of a [[Neolithic]] settlement belonging to what is now called the [[Ronaldsway culture]], in honour of this site.

RAF operations continued until 1943 when the airfield was handed over to the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]] for further development as a [[Fleet Air Arm]] training station.

==== HMS ''Urley'' ==== Now a [[naval air station]], Royal Naval Air Station Ronaldsway (RNAS Ronaldsway), the airport was taken out of commission in 1943 for almost twelve months of extensive development undertaken by [[John Laing Group|John Laing & Son]].{{sfn|Ritchie|1997|p=102}} By the summer of 1944 the airfield had evolved from a grass landing area with a few hangars to a four runway airfield with the infrastructure to house and operate three training squadrons operating with [[Fairey Barracuda]] [[torpedo bomber]]s.

Commissioned as HMS ''Urley'' ([[Manx language|Manx]] for Eagle) by the [[Royal Navy]] on 21 June 1944, with accounts handled by {{HMS|Valkyrie|shore establishment|6}}, flying recommenced on 15 July 1944.<ref name="Warlow">{{Cite book |last=Warlow, Ben |title=Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy |publisher=Maritime Books |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-907771-74-6 |page=93}}</ref> The airfield's main role was that of a torpedo working-up station. No. 1 OTU consisted of [[710 Naval Air Squadron|710]], [[713 Naval Air Squadron|713]] and [[747 Naval Air Squadron]]s and these operated until the cessation of hostilities in 1945. The base was '[[Ship commissioning#Decommissioning|paid off]]' on 14 January 1946, and transferred to Care and Maintenance under {{HMS|Blackcap||6}}.<ref name="Warlow" /> The nominal [[depot ship]] from 21 June 1944 was a 32' cutter named ''XXII'', which itself was constructed in 1937.<ref name="Warlow" />

====Post-war==== The airport reverted to solely civilian flying almost immediately after the war, but the airfield remained in [[Admiralty (United Kingdom)|Admiralty]] possession until sold to the [[Isle of Man Government]] for £200,000 in 1948, far short of the £1 million that the [[Her Majesty's Government|UK Government]] had spent on constructing the airport buildings and runways, plus the £105,000 that was paid by the Admiralty in 1943 to purchase the site. Several Manx-based airlines were formed in the early postwar years to operate scheduled and charter services to the UK mainland.

===Development since the 2000s=== A project by Ellis Brown Architects began in November 1998 to extend the airport and improve the facilities available to passengers. In March 2000 the new extension was opened, providing a new landside catering outlet, arrivals area, baggage hall, and departure lounge. The existing part of the airport was refurbished during this time to provide improved [[check-in]] facilities and offices, linked to the extension with a new airport entrance. During the extension and renovation period, the iconic [[the Isle of Man#Symbols|Three Legs of Man]] sculpture adorning the airport's façade was also refurbished. In March 2006 funding for a further extension was granted by [[Tynwald]] to increase the number of departure [[gate (airport)|gates]], with work due for completion in summer 2007.

In April 2008 Tynwald granted a major runway extension and resurfacing project at the airport. The runway was extended by {{Convert|245|m|abbr=on}} out into the [[Irish Sea]] by the construction of a rock-armoured [[promontory]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Runway Extended at Ronaldsway |url=https://airportsinternational.keypublishing.com/2011/02/10/runway-extended-at-ronaldsway/4170/ |access-date=10 June 2020 |publisher=Airports International}}</ref> The development also included resurfacing of the runway and was completed in 2011. It has emerged that the actual runway take-off length was underestimated by 160 metres in the £1.5 million feasibility study. Whilst the study originally looked into the aviation marketing implication of runway length, airport management denied that the extension was for the use of heavier aircraft, stating that the resurfacing and extension were to comply with international safety standards.<ref>{{Cite news |website=BBC News|title=Tynwald approves runway project |date=15 April 2008 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/isle_of_man/7349569.stm |access-date=4 June 2015}}</ref>

There was a significant overspend on the project due to poor foreign exchange management of the Euro-denominated components of the costs. It is thought that the Manx Treasury Minister may have been referring to the expense of the runway and the additional £6,515,000 control tower project<ref>{{Cite web |title=TYNWALD GO-AHEAD SOUGHT FOR NEW AIRPORT CONTROL TOWER BUILDING |url=http://www.gov.im/lib/news/airport/tynwaldgoaheadso.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524070546/http://www.gov.im/lib/news/airport/tynwaldgoaheadso.xml |archive-date=24 May 2014 |access-date=4 June 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref> when he stated in his 2009 Budget speech that the Isle of Man could no longer afford "Rolls-Royce" projects. Following the completion of the runway extension project the largest aircraft that can operate fully at Ronaldsway is the [[Boeing 757]].

In September 2019, [[Flybe (1979-2020)|Flybe]] announced it would shut down its base operations at the airport by Spring 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-isle-of-man-49663610|title=Flybe to close Isle of Man base in 2020 but flights will continue|website=BBC|date=12 September 2019}}</ref>

== Terminal == The Isle of Man airport has one terminal with 5 gates, all of which are hardstands. Airside, there is a lounge operated by [[Menzies Aviation]] that can be accessed by passengers for a fee. There is also a duty free, a bar and a [[Costa Coffee]] café.

==Airlines and destinations==  The following airlines operate regular scheduled flights to and from the Isle of Man:<ref name=airport.im>[https://www.airport.im/destinations/ Flight destinations and timetables], airport.im, retrieved 25 January 2023</ref>

{{Airport-dest-list

|[[airBaltic]] | '''Seasonal charter:''' [[Tenerife South Airport|Tenerife–South]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flydirect.co.uk/flight-information/flying-to-tenerife-from-the-isle-of-man | title=Flying Direct to Tenerife from the Isle of Man }}</ref>  |{{nowrap|[[Aer Lingus]]}} | [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]]<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/241031-einw24eu|title=Aer Lingus NW24 Europe Frequency Changes – 27OCT24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=31 October 2024|access-date=14 March 2025|language=en}}</ref>  |{{nowrap|[[British Airways]]}} | '''Seasonal charter:''' [[Faro Airport|Faro]],<ref>{{cite web | title=New direct airlink to Faro announced | url=https://www.three.fm/news/isle-of-man-news/new-direct-airlink-to-faro-announced/ }}</ref> [[Ibiza Airport|Ibiza]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flydirect.co.uk/flight-information/flying-to-ibiza-from-the-isle-of-man | title=Flying Direct to Ibiza from the Isle of Man}}</ref> [[Málaga Airport|Málaga]],<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flydirect.co.uk/flight-information/flying-to-costa-del-sol-from-isle-of-man | title=Flying Direct to Costa del Sol from Isle of Man}}</ref> [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.flydirect.co.uk/flight-information/flying-to-majorca-from-isle-of-man | title=Flying to Majorca from the Isle of Man}}</ref>  | [[easyJet]] | [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Liverpool]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220704-u2jul22uk|title=easyJet July 2022 UK Operation Update - 03JUL22|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=4 July 2022|access-date=7 April 2025|language=en}}</ref> [[Gatwick Airport|London–Gatwick]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220905-u2nw22lonman|title=easyJet NW22 London / Manchester Frequency Changes – 04SEP22|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=5 September 2022|access-date=1 April 2025|language=en}}</ref> [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]]<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240119-u2jul24gb|title=easyJet July/August 2024 UK Frequency Variations – 14JAN24|website=Aeroroutes.com|date=19 January 2024|access-date=1 April 2025|language=en}}</ref> <br /> ''' Seasonal:''' [[Bristol Airport|Bristol]],<ref name=airport.im/> [[London Luton Airport|London–Luton]]  | [[Loganair]] | [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]],<ref name="aeroroutes_240227-lmns24">{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240227-lmns24|title=Loganair NS24 Service Changes – 25FEB24|website=Aeroroutes.com|access-date=2 November 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref> [[Edinburgh Airport|Edinburgh]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/54715-loganair-to-begin-edinburgh-isle-of-man-ops-in-mid-2q17 |title=Loganair to begin Edinburgh-Isle of Man ops in mid-2Q17 |website=ch-aviation.com |date=2017-03-31 |access-date=3 November 2024 |archive-date=4 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241204075032/https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/54715-loganair-to-begin-edinburgh-isle-of-man-ops-in-mid-2q17 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport|Liverpool]],<ref name="aeroroutes_240227-lmns24"/> [[London City Airport|London–City]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/220427-lmiom|title=Loganair Restores Isle of Man – London Link in April 2022|website=Aeroroutes.com|access-date=2 November 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref> [[Heathrow Airport|London–Heathrow]],<ref name="aeroroutes_240227-lmns24"/> [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]],<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Liu|first1=Jim|url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/231003-lmnw23iomman|title=Loganair Increases Isle of Man – Manchester Service in NW23|website=Aeroroutes.com|access-date=2 November 2024|language=en-CA}}</ref> [[Newquay Airport|Newquay]]<ref>{{cite web | title=Airline returns flights in and out of Cornwall earlier than planned | date=10 February 2023 | url=https://www.falmouthpacket.co.uk/news/23314078.flights-cornwall-manchester-loganair-return-newquay/ }}</ref>  }}

==Other tenants== Now-defunct regional airlines [[Citywing]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Citywing |url=http://www.citywing.com/speak-to-the-team/ |website=Citywing.com |access-date=30 April 2016 |archive-date=10 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170210211321/http://www.citywing.com/speak-to-the-team/ }}</ref> and [[Manx Airlines]]<ref>"World Airline Directory." ''[[Flight International]]''. 26 March-1 April 1997. [http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1997/1997%20-%200854.html?search=Malev 86]. "Isle of Man (Ronaldsway) Airport, Ballasalla, Isle of Man, IM9 2JE, UK"</ref> had their head offices on the airport property. The [[Manx Military and Aviation Museum]] is situated next to the airport and has exhibits and information about the history of aviation on the island.

==Statistics== [[File:Cafe Oasis at Ronaldsway airport - geograph.org.uk - 4304186.jpg|thumb|Terminal interior]] [[File:Derbyhaven, Isle of Man.jpg|thumb|Aerial view]] {|class="wikitable sortable" style="max-width:40em;" width= align= ! rowspan=2|Year!! colspan=2|Passenger numbers |- ! Total!!% change |- !2014 | 729,703||- |- !2015 | 781,601||{{increase}} 7.1% |- !2016 | 791,651||{{increase}} 1.3% |- !2017 | 797,615||{{increase}} 0.8% |- !2018 | 787,257||{{decrease}} 1.3% |- !2019 | 854,676||{{increase}} 8.6% |- !2020 | 162,898||{{decrease}} 80.9% |- !2021 | 182,371||{{increase}} 12.0% |- !2022 | 562,490||{{increase}} 208.4% |- !2023 |649,342 |{{increase}} 15.4% |- !2024 |652,274 |{{increase}} 0.5% |}

=== Route statistics === {|class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size: 100%" width= align= |+Busiest routes to and from Isle of Man Airport (2024)<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=19 January 2024 |title=Isle of Man Airport Passenger Figures |url=https://www.airport.im/passenger-figures/ |access-date=19 January 2024 |website=Isle of Man Airport}}</ref> |- bgcolor=lightgrey ! Rank|| Airport || Passengers handled || % change |- |1|| [[Liverpool Airport|Liverpool]]||178,036 |{{increase}} 3.9% |- |2|| [[London Gatwick Airport|London-Gatwick]] |165,176||{{increase}} 3.4% |- |3|| [[Manchester Airport|Manchester]]||121,233 | {{increase}} 1.4% |- |4|| [[Dublin Airport|Dublin]]||39,701||{{increase}} 2.5% |- |5|| [[Heathrow Airport|London-Heathrow]]||33,732||{{increase}} 1.7% |- |6|| [[Bristol Airport|Bristol]]||20,743||{{decrease}} 23.4% |- |7|| [[London City Airport|London-City]]||19,056||{{increase}} 4.3% |- |8|| [[Birmingham Airport|Birmingham]]||18,336||{{decrease}} 8.5% |- |9||[[Belfast International Airport|Belfast-International]]||17,855||{{decrease}} 10.6% |- |10|| [[Edinburgh Airport|Edinburgh]]||9,344||{{decrease}} 16.7% |}

==Ground transport== [[File:Ruth 2006.09 Ronaldsway Halt IoMR edited-1.jpg|thumb|right|Ronaldsway railway halt with a train arriving from Douglas.]] Bus services are provided by [[Bus Vannin]], formerly [[Isle of Man Transport]], to Douglas, Castletown, [[Colby, Isle of Man|Colby]], [[Port Erin]], [[Port St Mary]], [[Peel, Isle of Man|Peel]], [[St John's, Isle of Man|St John's]], [[Foxdale]] and Castletown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Isle of Man Government - Bus and Rail |url=http://www.gov.im/publictransport/Bus/timetables.xml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028050501/http://www.gov.im/publictransport/Bus/timetables.xml |archive-date=28 October 2014 |access-date=4 June 2015 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[Ronaldsway railway station]] on the [[Isle of Man Railway]] is roughly 600 metres walk from the airport, and is sometimes used by air passengers.

==Airport emergency services==

===Fire and rescue service=== In common with most international airports, the Isle of Man Airport maintains its own fire service. This service cooperates closely with the [[Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service]], although it is independent, with its own management and chief officer. For joint operational purposes, and for the assigning of radio call signs to appliances, the airport fire station is known as "station 9", in a common series with the IoM Fire & Rescue Service, whose seven fire stations are numbered from "station 1" to "station 7" inclusive. The airport fire station is a large five-bay purpose-built structure with duty rooms and offices. The service operates a fleet including two Carmichael Cobra 2 major foam tenders, a third (smaller) major foam tender, a standard duty pump (principally for building fires), and a 4x4 Land Rover. A further major appliance (Iturri Torro) is on order.{{Citation needed|date=September 2020}}

===Police and security service=== {{main|Isle of Man Airport Police}} The [[Isle of Man Airport Police]] was a small independent police service providing security and policing at the airport site, with warranted constables, known as "aviation security officers" (ASO). Under Manx law ASOs had full police powers, including the power of arrest, whilst on airport property. For major crimes the airport police was supported by the [[Isle of Man Constabulary]]. The airport police were disbanded at the end of September 2019, with the responsibility for airfield security passing to a private contractor.

==Accidents and incidents== *On 26 January 1935, [[Hillman's Airways]] [[de Havilland Dragon Rapide]] G-ACPO, operating a mail flight from [[Aldergrove Airport]], [[Belfast]] to [[Stapleford Aerodrome]], [[Abridge]], Essex via [[Speke Airport]], [[Liverpool]], Merseyside crashed at [[Derbyhaven]], [[Isle of Man]], whilst attempting to divert to Ronaldsway during bad weather.{{sfn|Poole|1999|p=12}} *On 23 March 1936, [[United Airways Limited|United Airways]] [[Spartan Cruiser]] G-ADEL crashed at Ronaldsway. The aircraft was operating a mail flight from [[Hall Caine Airport]], [[Ramsey, Isle of Man|Ramsey]]. The aircraft was dismantled and departed the island on board {{SS|Conister}} of the [[Isle of Man Steam Packet Company]]. It was repaired by its manufacturers and returned to service.{{sfn|Poole|1999|pp=13–14}} *On 9 May 1938, [[de Havilland Express]] G-AENR of [[Isle of Man Air Services]] crashed on landing at Ronaldsway Airport. The aircraft was operating a mail flight from [[Speke Airport]], [[Liverpool]], Merseyside. Despite substantial damage to the port lower wing and both port engines, the aircraft was repaired and returned to service.{{sfn|Poole|1999|pp=14–15}} *On 14 September 1938, de Havilland Express G-ADVK of Isle of Man Air Services lost the starboard inner propeller in flight whilst operating a flight from Speke to Ronaldsway. The propeller embedded itself in the fuselage of the aircraft. A successful landing was made at Ronaldsway.{{sfn|Poole|1999|p=15}} * On 22 June 2023, a [[West Atlantic UK]] Boeing 737-300, G-JMCL, operating a cargo flight from Isle of Man Airport to [[East Midlands Airport]] suffered from a hydraulic failure resulting in the loss of nosewheel steering and degraded braking. The aircraft returned to Ronaldsway and made a successful landing. On landing, significant quantities of hydraulic fluid were spilt, disabling the aircraft on the runway and forcing the overnight closure of the airport and the cancellation of some flights the next morning.<ref>{{Cite web|title=West Atlantic B733 at Isle of Man on Jun 22nd 2023, hydraulic failure|url=https://avherald.com/h?article=50af3cfc&opt=1|access-date=2024-02-28|website=avherald.com}}</ref>

==References== ===Citations=== {{Reflist}}

===Bibliography=== {{refbegin}} *{{Cite book |last=Poole |first=Stephen |title=Rough Landing or Fatal Flight |publisher=Amulree Publications |year=1999 |isbn=1-901508-03-X |location=Douglas }} * {{Cite book |last=Ritchie |first=Berry |title=The Good Builder: The John Laing Story |publisher=James & James |year=1997}} {{refend}}

== External links == {{Commons category-inline}} * {{Official website}} * {{NWS-current|EGNS}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20061004030612/http://aviation-safety.net/database/airport/airport.php?id=IOM Accident history for IOM] at [[Aviation Safety Network]]

[[Category:Buildings and structures in the Isle of Man]] [[Category:Art Deco airports]] [[Category:History of the Isle of Man|Ronaldsway]] [[Category:Malew]]