Manx government impounds Flybe plane as outstanding debt payment
The Isle of Man government has impounded an aircraft owned by collapsed airline Flybe until the company’s outstanding debts are paid.
Treasury minister Alfred Cannan told the BBC that the…
The Isle of Man government has impounded an aircraft owned by collapsed airline Flybe until the company’s outstanding debts are paid.
Treasury minister Alfred Cannan told the BBC that the airline owed the island’s infrastructure department more than £300,000 in landing fees as well as air passenger duty (APD) from February. Scottish airline Logainair, now the UK’s biggest regional airline, has announced it will maintain connectivity between the island and Liverpool John Lennon Airport on an interim basis from tomorrow.
Unknown APD sum for Feb owed
The sum of money owed by the airline for February’s APD figure is, as yet, unknown, but the figure of total duties paid in January was £155,577. The minister stated that the island’s customs and excise division was still waiting for confirmation of the total amount of APD due to the government.
Aircraft has “book value of £4m”
Cannan told the Manx parliament: “A Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, which is the aircraft in question, has a replacement value of around £25m and a book value of £4m, so I hope that we should indeed get our money that is owed.”
The BBC had approached Flybe’s administrator, EY for comment.
Logainair commences interim service
The last Flybe aircraft landed at the island’s Ronaldsway Airport on March 4, hours before the airline was placed into administration. Scottish airline Loganair is to commence emergency provision of scheduled services between Isle of Man and Liverpool John Lennon Airport from tomorrow (March 12). The operation will maintain essential connectivity for the island in a twice daily service using a Saab 340 turboprop aircraft.
Loganair CEO Jonathan Hinkles said: “We understand how important this link is to the Isle of Man, and we have worked with the Isle of Man government to provide this initial interim service. We fully expect to announce an expansion of our services in the coming weeks.”
The carrier already operates services from the Isle of Man to Edinburgh and London City on behalf of BA CityFlyer.
