Ministers aim to return air link

Euromanx operated a route to London City Airport

A new link to London City Airport from the Isle of Man is the priority after the collapse of EuroManx, Treasury Minister Allan Bell has said.

The airline, which went into receivership on 9 May, ran a direct service to the airport.

Mr Bell believes other airlines will fill in the gaps left by the former airline's other routes.

But he said it was vital for the island's business community to get back another link to London City.

Tentative propsals

Mr Bell has also rejected some calls for the government to take charge of the defunct airline.

"I still don't see that the Isle of Man (government) should be in the role of actually running an airline," he said.

"But we do need to now work with the private sector and with other airlines to ensure that this link back to London City especially is re-established as quickly as we possibly can.

"I do know that the Department of Transport is talking to other airlines and some tentative proposals have been made.

"I am hopeful in the not too distant future we will be able to come forward with a new set of proposals that will fill that particular gap."

Another airline with a presence on the island, Flybe, operates routes to Gatwick and Luton..

VLM operates the only direct link to London City Airport.