VLM pulls plug on island flights

The airline was expected to restart flights in September

Flights between Isle of Man and London City airports with VLM Airlines will not be restarting in September as originally planned.

The airline withdrew the service for the summer holiday period, as many of the regular passengers were travelling on business.

But it said there were not enough passengers for it to continue running the service after the holiday.

Passengers booked with VLM will be transferred to Aer Arann flights.

"This decision has been taken in light of the difficult ongoing economic challenges facing all airlines and because traffic figures on the service simply do not justify its continuation," a VLM spokeswoman said.

Antwerp-based VLM Airlines has operated flights between the island and London City since November 2005 and since then has carried almost 74,000 passengers.

Ann Reynolds added: "The current recession, as with all carriers, has had an impact upon the VLM Airlines' Isle of Man operation and I fully understand the reasons for it having to cease operating this service."