Latest news with #RonaldswayAirport
ITV News
23-05-2025
- ITV News
Body of British bomb disposal expert who died in Ukraine returned to Isle of Man
The body of a bomb disposal expert who died volunteering in Ukraine after "saving countless lives" is being returned to the Isle of Man. Chris Garrett, 40, had dedicated years to clearing landmines and was helping train Ukrainian troops when he was killed by an improvised device in the city of Izyum on Tuesday, 6 May. The father-of-one had co-founded a humanitarian and mine clearance charity called Prevail Together with his partner Courtney Pollock. An investigation is now ongoing into the fatal explosion, which also killed one of Mr Garrett's colleagues, an Australian national, and injured a third man. The 40-year-old's body will be returned to hometown of Peel on Friday, 23 May. A guard of honour is being formed at Ronaldsway Airport before a motorcade made up of vehicles flying Manx, British and Ukrainian flags, will travel to Peel. A fundraiser launched to support the family of Mr Garrett, who had a one-year-old daughter, raised more than 10,000 US dollars (£7,543) within a day of being launched. Prevail Together board member Shaun Pinner confirmed the news of Chris' death and said his "legacy will carry on" through the charity's work and he would be "like a talisman" for the organisation after his death. He said: 'Chris was a talisman. He was driven by the injustices Russia are doing here. He brought mine awareness to children through to adults and had knowledge which will be deeply missed. "The outpouring has been really emotional. Local communities have all reached out to us. He knew everyone in the military and police as well as all the civilian communities. "The amount of lives he has saved, I can't count them. He's pulled out tons and tons of mines.'
ITV News
30-04-2025
- ITV News
Isle of Man airport to reduce daily closures in air traffic control ahead of TT races
Staff at the Isle of Man airport have confirmed there will be a reduction in the number of closures within air traffic control (ATC), ahead of the annual TT races. Ronaldsway Airport has faced significant disruption since September 2023, due to a shortage in qualified ATC staff. The runway has been closed daily twice a day to allow for necessary rest breaks, which is a regulatory requirement for those working within ATC. Currently the scheduled rest breaks are between 8:30-9:05am and from 11:00-11:35am. However, staff at the airport say 'a significant number of these closures will no longer be necessary', due to 'ongoing training of air traffic controllers'. Ronaldsway Airport have been contacted for further information regarding the updated closure times. A lack of air traffic controllers has led to daily closures of the runway at Ronaldsway for a couple of years. In a Facebook post, a spokesperson for the airport said 'training a new air traffic controller can take between three to four years'. Experienced controllers coming from other airports also require 6-18 months for an Isle of Man certification, allowing them to operate within the island. Staff say the new change will lead to 'fewer disruptions during the day, especially when flights are delayed'. Other operational updates shared by the airport included updated security measures. New machines will be installed in the coming weeks in the central search areas of the main terminal, ensuring compliance with the UK Department for Transport. Airport officials say liquids under 100ml must still be placed in a clear plastic bag, and laptops must be removed from hand luggage during screening. Work to upgrade the system will begin from May 1, meaning only one security machine will be available in the time leading up to the Isle of Man TT. The TT races are due to run from Monday 26 May to Saturday 7 June.
BBC News
15-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Flights cuts 'no reflection on Manx airport', says minister
A reduction in flights between the Isle of Man and the North West of England was "no reflection on the island's airport", the infrastructure minister has said EasyJet's schedule changes were not based on how the the facility was "managed or run but was rather a "business decision" made by the firm, she airline is set to reduce flights between Ronaldsway Airport and Liverpool and Manchester between April and November following a fall in Haywood said while she was "comforted" the carrier would continue to serve the island, she "understands the frustrations" of those whose travel plans had been disrupted. An EasyJet spokesman previously said the airline continually reviewed its schedule across its network "to align with demand".While its flights to London Gatwick and Bristol have been unaffected, in April the airline will run up to 12 flights a week to and from Manchester, and 10 flights a week to and from Liverpool. 'Freedom to negotiate' Haywood said there had been a "real difference" in the types of flights the airline wanted to provide, and "by adding 33 new routes from the UK into Europe they need the planes to be elsewhere"."Some of the take-off and land journeys have been a casualty of that change, its easyJet's decision to make, its unfortunate the Isle of Man is losing out slightly," she the minister said the Strategic Air Services Policy, which was recently passed by Tynwald and maintains an open skies policy, allowed the island "freedom to negotiate with airlines to explore new route"."Work is ongoing with the airport and the Department for Enterprise over improving routes and getting increased connections into other destinations," she added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
