Still some positives in passenger figures

There was another fall in passenger figures at Isle of Man Airport last month.

Sixty-three thousand people passed through Ronaldsway, a drop of almost 3,000 - or 4.4 per cent - on the same month last year.

The Department of Transport says the reduction is broadly in line with the recently reported fall in passenger traffic at United Kingdom regional airports, and the decline is expected to accelerate over the winter months as the economic downturn continues to effect air travel globally.

Airport Director Ann Reynolds (pictured) says the drop in numbers has come as no surprise, but overall the figures for the year are still relatively encouraging: