Airport and Steam Packet Defend Services after Damning Travel Survey

Both the Isle of Man Airport and the Steam Packet Company have insisted improvements are being made after a new survey revealed low satisfaction levels with off-island travel.

But the figures paint a different picture, with just one in five residents saying they are happy with key aspects such as cost, reliability and choice of routes.

The study, carried out by Island Global Research between January 7 and February 1, suggests the island is lagging behind its Crown Dependency neighbours when it comes to travel links.

In the Isle of Man, only 17% of respondents said they were satisfied with the reliability of air travel and the choice of destinations by air.

Just 18% were happy with the cost of both air and sea travel, while satisfaction with sea reliability stood at 27%.

Across the board, fewer than half of those surveyed expressed satisfaction, with results showing a noticeable decline compared to a similar study in 2019.

The biggest drop came in satisfaction with the choice of air destinations, which fell by 42 percentage points.

Confidence in the future of travel links also remains low. Only 20% of respondents said they were confident services would meet the needs of residents over the next five years, whether for personal or business travel.

Similar levels of confidence were recorded when it came to supporting businesses, tourism and maintaining vital lifeline routes.

The survey gathered responses from 2,463 residents across the Crown Dependencies, including 756 from the Isle of Man.

Feedback pointed to growing frustration around delays and disruption, with many feeling services have become less reliable in recent years.

High costs and limited connectivity were also raised as key concerns, alongside potential knock-on effects for the wider economy.

Despite this, both the airport and the Steam Packet pointed to progress being made.

A spokesperson for Isle of Man Airport said travel costs are closely linked to wider economic factors, noting that the average fare from the island in 2025 was £71 (excluding taxes), compared to £69 in Jersey and £85 in Guernsey.

They added that performance has improved following challenges in 2023, with cancellations dropping from 6% to 2% and on-time performance rising from 69% to 78% in 2025.

During the summer months, the airport ranked third out of 25 UK and British Isles airports for punctuality.

The spokesperson also acknowledged more work is needed on routes and connectivity but said efforts are ongoing to develop new services and increase frequency, despite a challenging market with fewer regional carriers.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Isle of Man Steam Packet Company said reliability, affordability and route choice remain key concerns and that improvements are being made based on customer feedback.

They highlighted an ongoing pricing strategy aimed at making ferry travel more affordable, as well as plans for new routes and schedules and a proposed dedicated Liverpool ferry.

In 2025, the company carried 682,097 passengers, up 8.2% on the previous year, including more than 69,000 children travelling for free. It also transported 203,319 vehicles across 2,144 sailings.

As it approaches its 200th year, the company said its focus remains on continuing to improve services for island residents.

Managing director of Island Global Research, Lindsay Jefferies, said the findings highlight ongoing concerns.

She said: ‘Our research shows residents across the Crown Dependencies continue to have concerns about the reliability, cost and long-term resilience of off-island travel links.

‘These findings highlight the need for ongoing investment, clear planning and open communication to help ensure our islands stay well-connected in the years ahead.’