Manx2
Encyclopedia
Manx2 Limited is a virtual commuter airline
, with its head office in Hangar 9, Isle of Man Airport
in Ballasalla
, Malew
, Isle of Man
. It sells flights and services from several airports in the UK with bases in Belfast City
, Blackpool
, Cardiff and Isle of Man
. The flights are currently operated by three airlines, Van Air Europe
, FLM Aviation, and Links Air.
airline, which serves the Channel Islands
.
On 11 July 2006 Manx2 took delivery of its first chartered aircraft, a Let L-410
painted in the new corporate colours of Manx2. The aircraft was initially operated by 'BASe Air Kft' (Budapest Air Services) under the call sign 'Base' and the flight code 'BPS'. The first three routes to be announced by Manx2 were from the Isle of Man to Belfast International
and Blackpool on 15 July, followed by Leeds Bradford
on 12 August 2006.
Manx2 introduced the BAe Jetstream 31 into their fleet in September 2006 with the aircraft being operated by Jetstream Executive Travel. Initially only one J31 was added to the fleet to operate the Isle of Man to Leeds Bradford service.
Manx2 added a Fairchild Metroliner
from Flightline BCN to their fleet for a period and extended their route network to include Belfast City. Routes to Belfast City and Blackpool are now flown by two 19 seat turboprop Let L-410
aircraft from European operator VanAir Europe.
On 3 September 2007, Manx2 launched a new twice-daily service connecting Manx2's base on the Isle of Man
with Gloucestershire Airport
, located at Staverton
between Gloucester
and Cheltenham
, within an hour of major cities such as Birmingham
and Bristol
. This route now competes with Flybe
who fly to Birmingham. The route also has a seasonal extension to Jersey
on Saturdays
For 2008 Manx 2 added two Dornier 228 aircraft to its fleet and carried 100,000 passengers that year. A third Do 228 was added in 2009. In 2009 Manx2 announced it had carried its 250,000th passenger. It also announced an increased frequency of five flights daily on its main route from Blackpool and additional flights to Belfast City.
The flagship route to Blackpool was subsequently increased to ten flights per day after the company launched 15 days free parking for its customers at Blackpool airport, while the Belfast City flights have surpassed the former Island flag carrier's numbers. A new base was established at Belfast City with additional frequency to the Isle of Man and Cork. The Leeds Bradford route also operates daily. The Gloucestershire route is operated every weekday morning and evening and has been a great success with the benefit of permanent free parking at Gloucester. In August 2009 a new route was started to Newcastle upon Tyne
, and in May 2010 the company succeeded in tendering for a seven month Public Service Obligation
contract to operate the Cardiff–Isle of Anglesey
route for the Welsh Assembly Government
. This contract has subsequently been extended for a further four years.
Shortly thereafter Manx2 launched a service from Galway
to Belfast and the Isle of Man, and in September 2010 a twice daily service between Belfast and Cork was launched. This service ceased in March 2011 following an accident involving the operator of the route, Flightline BCN. and Manx2 ceased its leasing arrangement with Flightline BCN. Manx2 has since exited the Irish
market, having cancelled its seasonal Belfast - Galway service.
Services between Belfast City and Isle of Man have been increased and through Services to Gloucester (Staverton) from Belfast City have been launched. The company also operates seasonal services between Isle of Man and Anglesey (Valley) Airport.
Manx2 has aligned its flight schedule with that of Jet2.com
and others to enable passengers to connect to other destinations in Europe
.
Virtual Airline (economics)
In economics, a virtual airline is an airline that has outsourced as many possible operational and business functions as it can, but still maintains effective control of its core business. Such an airline focuses on operating a network of air services, and outsourcing non-core activities to other...
, with its head office in Hangar 9, Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport , also known as Ronaldsway Airport and, in Manx, Purt Aer Vannin, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is...
in Ballasalla
Ballasalla
Ballasalla is a village in the parish of Malew in the south-east of the Isle of Man, close to the town of Castletown. The village was built mostly from the ruins of the nearby Rushen Abbey, a Cistercian abbey founded in the 12th century and dissolved in the 16th century.-Governance:The local...
, Malew
Malew
Malew is a parish in the Isle of Man. It is in the sheading of Rushen together with the neighbouring parishes of Rushen and Arbory.Malew parish covers an area from Langness Peninsula and Scarlett up to Foxdale, and includes the villages of Ballasalla, St Mark's and Derbyhaven. The area includes...
, Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
. It sells flights and services from several airports in the UK with bases in Belfast City
George Best Belfast City Airport
George Best Belfast City Airport is a single-runway airport in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Situated adjacent to the Port of Belfast it is from Belfast City Centre. It shares the site with the Short Brothers/Bombardier aircraft manufacturing facility...
, Blackpool
Blackpool Airport
Blackpool International Airport is an international airport on the Fylde coast of Lancashire, England, in the Borough of Fylde, just outside the Borough of Blackpool. It was formerly known as Squires Gate Airport....
, Cardiff and Isle of Man
Isle of Man Airport
Isle of Man Airport , also known as Ronaldsway Airport and, in Manx, Purt Aer Vannin, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is...
. The flights are currently operated by three airlines, Van Air Europe
Van Air Europe
Van Air Europe is a Czech charter airline, based in Brno, Czech Republic. The airline operates flights on behalf of Manx2 using their fleet of four LET-410 aircraft.-History:The airline was founded in 2004 by its parent company Aeroservis....
, FLM Aviation, and Links Air.
History
Manx2 was launched on 11 May 2006 with services starting on 15 July. Its chairman is Noel Hayes. Manx2 was founded by the team who set up the Blue IslandsBlue Islands
Blue Islands Limited is an airline of the Channel Islands. Its head office is in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey, and its registered office is in Saint Anne, Alderney. It operates scheduled services from and within the Channel Islands and the UK and the Isle of Man...
airline, which serves the Channel Islands
Channel Islands
The Channel Islands are an archipelago of British Crown Dependencies in the English Channel, off the French coast of Normandy. They include two separate bailiwicks: the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey...
.
On 11 July 2006 Manx2 took delivery of its first chartered aircraft, a Let L-410
L-410
The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin-engined short-range transport aircraft, manufactured by the Czech aircraft manufacturer LET, mostly used for passenger transport. Since 1969 more than 1100 airframes have been produced.-Development:...
painted in the new corporate colours of Manx2. The aircraft was initially operated by 'BASe Air Kft' (Budapest Air Services) under the call sign 'Base' and the flight code 'BPS'. The first three routes to be announced by Manx2 were from the Isle of Man to Belfast International
Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport is a major airport located northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was formerly known and is still referred to as Aldergrove Airport, after the village of the same name lying immediately to the west of the airport. Belfast International shares its runways with...
and Blackpool on 15 July, followed by Leeds Bradford
Leeds Bradford International Airport
Leeds Bradford International Airport is located at Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, northwest of Leeds city centre itself...
on 12 August 2006.
Manx2 introduced the BAe Jetstream 31 into their fleet in September 2006 with the aircraft being operated by Jetstream Executive Travel. Initially only one J31 was added to the fleet to operate the Isle of Man to Leeds Bradford service.
Manx2 added a Fairchild Metroliner
Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner
The Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
from Flightline BCN to their fleet for a period and extended their route network to include Belfast City. Routes to Belfast City and Blackpool are now flown by two 19 seat turboprop Let L-410
L-410
The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin-engined short-range transport aircraft, manufactured by the Czech aircraft manufacturer LET, mostly used for passenger transport. Since 1969 more than 1100 airframes have been produced.-Development:...
aircraft from European operator VanAir Europe.
On 3 September 2007, Manx2 launched a new twice-daily service connecting Manx2's base on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
with Gloucestershire Airport
Gloucestershire Airport
Gloucestershire Airport , formerly Staverton Airport, is located at Staverton, in the Borough of Tewkesbury within Gloucestershire, England. It lies west of Cheltenham, near the city of Gloucester and close to the M5 motorway. According to the sign at the airport's entrance it is Gloucestershire's...
, located at Staverton
Staverton, Gloucestershire
Staverton is a village between the city of Gloucester and the town of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire, England, in the borough of Tewkesbury.It is the location of Gloucestershire Airport, which was previously called Staverton Airport and RAF Staverton. It is the home of the Dowty Rotol and...
between Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
and Cheltenham
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
, within an hour of major cities such as Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. This route now competes with Flybe
Flybe
Flybe Group PLC is a British low-cost regional airline headquartered at the Jack Walker House at Exeter International Airport in Devon, England...
who fly to Birmingham. The route also has a seasonal extension to Jersey
Jersey
Jersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
on Saturdays
For 2008 Manx 2 added two Dornier 228 aircraft to its fleet and carried 100,000 passengers that year. A third Do 228 was added in 2009. In 2009 Manx2 announced it had carried its 250,000th passenger. It also announced an increased frequency of five flights daily on its main route from Blackpool and additional flights to Belfast City.
The flagship route to Blackpool was subsequently increased to ten flights per day after the company launched 15 days free parking for its customers at Blackpool airport, while the Belfast City flights have surpassed the former Island flag carrier's numbers. A new base was established at Belfast City with additional frequency to the Isle of Man and Cork. The Leeds Bradford route also operates daily. The Gloucestershire route is operated every weekday morning and evening and has been a great success with the benefit of permanent free parking at Gloucester. In August 2009 a new route was started to Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle Airport
Newcastle International Airport is located in Woolsington in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, north-west of the city centre. In 2010 it was the 11th busiest airport in the United Kingdom....
, and in May 2010 the company succeeded in tendering for a seven month Public Service Obligation
Public Service Obligation
In transport, public service obligation or PSO is an arrangement in which a governing body or other authority offers an auction for subsidies, permit the winning company a monopoly to operate a specified service of public transport for a specified period of time for the given subsidy...
contract to operate the Cardiff–Isle of Anglesey
Anglesey Airport
-Passenger statistics:-External links:***...
route for the Welsh Assembly Government
Welsh Assembly Government
The Welsh Government is the devolved government of Wales. It is accountable to the National Assembly for Wales, the legislature which represents the interests of the people of Wales and makes laws for Wales...
. This contract has subsequently been extended for a further four years.
Shortly thereafter Manx2 launched a service from Galway
Galway Airport
Galway Airport is located at Carnmore, north of Galway City, County Galway, Ireland and is managed by Corrib Airport Limited.On 31 October 2011 the airport's sole remaining operator Aer Arann ceased commercial operations at the airport...
to Belfast and the Isle of Man, and in September 2010 a twice daily service between Belfast and Cork was launched. This service ceased in March 2011 following an accident involving the operator of the route, Flightline BCN. and Manx2 ceased its leasing arrangement with Flightline BCN. Manx2 has since exited the Irish
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
market, having cancelled its seasonal Belfast - Galway service.
Services between Belfast City and Isle of Man have been increased and through Services to Gloucester (Staverton) from Belfast City have been launched. The company also operates seasonal services between Isle of Man and Anglesey (Valley) Airport.
Destinations
- Isle of Man
- RonaldswayRonaldswayRonaldsway is a place in Malew in the south of the Isle of Man, between the village of Ballasalla and the town of Castletown. It is notable as the location of Isle of Man Airport and historically RNAS Ronaldsway, together with the adjoining customs free zone and industrial estate.Ronaldsway is the...
- Isle of Man AirportIsle of Man AirportIsle of Man Airport , also known as Ronaldsway Airport and, in Manx, Purt Aer Vannin, is the main civilian airport on the Isle of Man. It is located in the south of the island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, southwest of Douglas, the island's capital. Along with the Isle of Man Sea Terminal, it is...
Base and HQ
- Ronaldsway
- United Kingdom
- BlackpoolBlackpoolBlackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
- Blackpool International Airport Base - JerseyJerseyJersey, officially the Bailiwick of Jersey is a British Crown Dependency off the coast of Normandy, France. As well as the island of Jersey itself, the bailiwick includes two groups of small islands that are no longer permanently inhabited, the Minquiers and Écréhous, and the Pierres de Lecq and...
- Jersey AirportJersey Airport-Busiest routes:Some airlines offer services between Jersey and other destinations with an intermediate stop at Guernsey. There are also periodic charter flights to European holiday destinations, Madeira and ski destinations operated by airlines such as Aurigny Air Services, Europe Airpost, Palmair... - LeedsLeedsLeeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...
/BradfordBradfordBradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
- Leeds Bradford International AirportLeeds Bradford International AirportLeeds Bradford International Airport is located at Yeadon, in the City of Leeds Metropolitan District in West Yorkshire, England, northwest of Leeds city centre itself... - Newcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon TyneNewcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
- Newcastle AirportNewcastle AirportNewcastle International Airport is located in Woolsington in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, north-west of the city centre. In 2010 it was the 11th busiest airport in the United Kingdom.... - CheltenhamCheltenhamCheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
/GloucesterGloucesterGloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
- Gloucestershire AirportGloucestershire AirportGloucestershire Airport , formerly Staverton Airport, is located at Staverton, in the Borough of Tewkesbury within Gloucestershire, England. It lies west of Cheltenham, near the city of Gloucester and close to the M5 motorway. According to the sign at the airport's entrance it is Gloucestershire's...
Focus City - AngleseyAngleseyAnglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
- Anglesey AirportAnglesey Airport-Passenger statistics:-External links:***... - CardiffCardiffCardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
- Cardiff Airport Base - George Best Belfast City AirportGeorge Best Belfast City AirportGeorge Best Belfast City Airport is a single-runway airport in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Situated adjacent to the Port of Belfast it is from Belfast City Centre. It shares the site with the Short Brothers/Bombardier aircraft manufacturing facility...
Base
- Blackpool
Manx2 has aligned its flight schedule with that of Jet2.com
Jet2.com
Jet2.com Limited is a British low-cost airline based at Leeds Bradford Airport, England. It operates services from eight UK bases to 54 destinations. The airline also offers contract charter and air cargo services. Its main base and headquarters is at Leeds Bradford Airport, with smaller bases at...
and others to enable passengers to connect to other destinations in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
.
Fleet
Manx2 does not own any aircraft directly but sells tickets on flights operated by other airlines, with some painted in the Manx2.com livery. The following aircraft are operated on services for Manx2 by airline operators :| Aircraft | Total |
|---|---|
| Dornier Do 228 Dornier Do 228 The Dornier 228 is a twin-turboprop STOL utility aircraft, manufactured by Dornier GmbH from 1981 until 1998. In 1983, Hindustan Aeronautics bought a production licence and manufactures the 228 for the Asian market sphere. Approximately 270 Do 228 were built at Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany and... |
3 |
| Let L-410 Turbolet | 2 |
| Jetstream 31 | 2 |
| Total | 7 |
Accidents and incidents
- On 10 February 2011, a Fairchild Swearingen SA.227BC Metro IIIFairchild Swearingen MetrolinerThe Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
, operated by Spanish Airline Flightline BCN with flight number NM7100, operating for Manx2 from Belfast CityGeorge Best Belfast City AirportGeorge Best Belfast City Airport is a single-runway airport in Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Situated adjacent to the Port of Belfast it is from Belfast City Centre. It shares the site with the Short Brothers/Bombardier aircraft manufacturing facility...
to Cork crashed on landing, killing four passengers and two crew and injuring a further six. The commuter flight from Belfast had ten passengers and two crew on board when it crashed in heavy fog at 9.51am. It was reported that it was the aircraft's third attempt at landing in foggy conditions, and overturned when it hit the ground.