Isle of Man Airport (also known as Ronaldsway Air, IOM

Isle of Man Airport (or Ronaldsway Airport) – Ronaldsway, Isle of Man, United King

Isle of Man Airport (IATA: IOM, ICAO: EGNS) (also known as Ronaldsway Airport) is the main civilian airport of the Isle of Man. It is located to the south of the Island at Ronaldsway near Castletown, 6 nautical miles (11 km) southwest of Douglas, the capital of the Isle of Man. The airport has scheduled services to the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland and the Channel Islands.

History

Ronaldsway was first used as an airfield in 1929 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 but in 1937 most operations were amalgamated under the Isle of Man Air Services banner.

The airfield came under Royal Air Force control at the outbreak of World War II. Known as RAF Ronaldsway, it was one of the few airfields that continued operating civilian flights throughout the wartime period. Operations continued until 1943 when the airfield was handed over to the Admiralty for further development as a Fleet Air Arm training station.

Ronaldsway was taken out of commission for almost 12 months of extensive development. 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. Named HMS Urley (Eagle) by the Admiralty operations recommenced in the summer of 1944, the airfield's main role being that of a torpedo working up station. No1 OTU consisted of Nos 710, 713 and 747 Squadrons, Fleet Air Arm and these operated until the cessation of hostilities in 1945.

Civilian flights resumed almost immediately after the war but the airfield remained in Admiralty possession until sold to the Isle of Man Government in 1948.

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.

Airlines and Destinations

Aer Arann (Dublin)
British Airways
Loganair (Glasgow, Edinburgh)
Blue Islands (Jersey, Guernsey)
Eastern Airways (Birmingham, Bristol, Newcastle, Southampton)
EuroManx (Belfast-City, Liverpool, London-City, Manchester)
Flybe (Birmingham, London-Gatwick, Manchester, Southampton)
Manx2 (Belfast-City, Belfast-International, Blackpool, Leeds/Bradford)
VLM Airlines (London-City)

Ground transport

Bus routes 1 and 2 serve Douglas, Castletown, Port Erin and other destinations from the airport with hourly frequency, half hourly at peak times.The Isle of Man Steam Railway also stops at the nearby Ronaldsway request stop.

Summary

Airport type : Public

Operator : The Isle of Man Department of Transport - Airports Division

Serves : Isle of Man

Elevation AMSL : 52 ft (16 m)

Website : www.iom-airport.com