New ATC roster in place from August
Daily runway closures at Ronaldsway Airport are to be significantly reduced from Tuesday 1 August.
A new Air Traffic Controller roster will mean there are only two periods of closure compared to the five currently in place.
It's hoped this will reduce the total closure time by more than two hours.
Former Infrastructure Minister Chris Thomas confirmed work was being done to ease the closure periods earlier this month.
Runway closures were introduced in June to preserve overall aerodrome hours, ensure air traffic controllers’ mandatory rest periods are taken, and allow essential staff training to continue during a period of acute staffing pressures.
Runway closures currently take place daily at the following times:
08:30-09:05
11:00-11:35
13:30-14:15
16:00-16:35
18:30-19:15
From Tuesday 1 August only the two morning closures will be retained:
08:30-09:05
11:00-11:35
Airport Director Gary Cobb said: "While the introduction of the new roster is a positive step and will improve the passenger experience, staff resource within Air Traffic Control remains finely-balanced.
"Building resilience is vital for island connectivity, and the team are focussing on both training existing staff and preparing for new starters following recruitment as part of the longer-term strategy.
"We thank all airlines and passengers for their patience during this challenging period, and wish to provide reassurance that the team is working extremely hard to make your journeys as smooth as possible."