Flybe ends Isle of Man's Southampton route

Flybe will no longer operate the Isle of Man to Southampton route from July 2014

Airline Flybe has announced it will end its direct flights between the Isle of Man and Southampton on 21 July 2014.

The service, which operates three times a week, was brought back into operation by the airline last May.

A spokesman for Flybe, which runs about 70 weekly flights from the island to UK airports, said the route had "failed to meet renewed expectations".

He added that passengers booked after the July deadline will be offered alternative flights or a full refund.

In April Flybe brought an end to its service between the Isle of Man Gatwick after selling its slots at the London airport to Easyjet for £20m.

"Flybe very much regrets that the demand for the [Southampton] route has not been forthcoming and hopes that the remaining services it operates to and from the Isle of Man will continue to be supported in the future," continued a spokesman.