TT ferry passenger numbers up as bike bookings drop

Thousands of visitors have arrived on the island for the TT festival

Passenger numbers on Steam Packet ferry sailings for this year's TT are up on last year but the number of motorbike bookings have fallen, the company's chief executive has said.

Brian Thomson said 2025 bookings were about 4.5% up from 2024, when more than 37,800 passengers booked to travel to the island during the period.

Visitors can arrive on the island via flights to the Isle of Man Airport or on ferries from Lancashire, Liverpool, Dublin and Belfast.

While the numbers of bike bookings were down, Mr Thomson said he believed "more people are bringing their bikes in vans and on trailers", noting those vehicle bookings had risen.

About 40,000 people were expected to arrive by boat throughout the TT fortnight, which runs from 26 May until 7 June.

If the final figure surpasses the 2024 total, it would become the third year in a row that figures surpass a previous high recorded in 2007, when 47,000 visited.

Steam Packet boss Brian Thomson said numbers were reaching pre-pandemic levels

While the event was cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic, the firm has since "seen increased passenger numbers every year", Mr Thomson said, adding that the Manxman had enabled that with its increased capacity.

It is the second year the vessel has been operational for the event, with an extra 400 passenger spaces available than its predecessor the Ben my Chree, which is currently running freight services.

Mr Thomson said: "The pressure on freight is huge because everything that's coming for TT, all the equipment, the fairground, the TT village, all of that's come on the boat, and keeping the island supplied."

Staffing is increased over the two weeks and extra sailings are fitted into the daily schedule, Mr Thomson explained.

At the Isle of Man Airport passenger numbers have remained level at about 60,000 over the two-week period.

Geoff Pugh said passenger numbers were consistent with the previous year

Interim airport director Geoff Pugh said that figure, while consistent with last year's numbers, is about 19% lower than pre-pandemic levels in 2019.

He said: "We're still some way off the numbers back in 2019, but that's the same throughout the year as well, not just the TT."

Two scanners are being replaced in the security area, upgrading them to meet standards set by the UK's Department for Transport.

While one machine has now been upgraded, work has been paused during the TT fortnight with the second machine until after racing ends.

There is currently a motorcycling display on the first floor of the airport

Also, after the event has finished, new flooring will be fitted, walls painted and new seating installed in the departure lounge as part of ongoing refurbishment works.

Mr Pugh said they were trying to make the airport "a welcoming place" and a motorsport display had been placed outside the departure lounge for the races.

"People will come through the airport and get their first taste of the motorsport vibe," he said.