Ronaldsway - Isle of Man
Airport
About Ronaldsway - Isle of Man Airport
Terminal Guide
The Island's Airport, Ronaldsway, is located near Castletown,
9 miles to the south of Douglas, and handles over half a million passengers
a year. A programme of improvements to facilities is underway, and the
airport is equipped to international standards of navigational/electronic
aids and passenger facilities.
A new departure lounge and arrivals facility has just
been completed, as well as a completely new section to the terminal
which has provided excellent new departure and arivals facilities.The
airfield is able to accommodate large aircraft such as the Boeing 757
and the Airbus A320. The main operator of scheduled passenger and freight
services is the Island based Manx Airlines. Manx Airlines has one of
Europe's newest fleets of aircraft, including the British Aerospace
146 Jet, Advanced Turbo Prop (ATP), and Jetstream 41.
Other schedules and freight services are flown by Jersey
European Airways - to Belfast City, Bristol and a new service to London
City; Comed Aviation - to Blackpool; and Emerald Airways, who operate
several freight services to Liverpool and Belfast using BAe 748 aircraft.
Frequent flights are provided to and from London (Heathrow
and Luton), Manchester, Liverpool, Belfast, Leeds/Bradford, Cardiff,
Jersey and Dublin. There are also daily connecting flights linking the
Island to Bristol, Newcastle, Southampton and many International destinations.
Holiday, Royal Mail, Datapost and newspaper charter flights
complete a busy air transport environment, supplemented by frequent
air taxi and private executive flights. Overall, Ronaldsway Airport
is the 21st busiest in the British Isles in terms of passengers handled.
Isle of Man Airport Development
As a local resident, or as a visitor to this Island you
are a valued customer of 'Ronaldsway’ as it is affectionately known.
The goal of everybody involved with the Airport is to provide you with
friendly and efficient air travel, and the Department of Transport are
working to ensure that the ground facilities here match the excellence
of those you will experience during your flight.
The Main Terminal was opened in 1952 and was, at that
time, the state of the art in air passenger comforts. There is a certain
charm to the building which dates from this more sedate and secure era
but, over the years as public air travel has be come more cosmopolitan
and accessible, passengers' requirement have changed.
The volume of traffic through the Terminal today is higher
than was ever envisaged by the designers some 50 years ago, and the
amount of security which now has to be accommodated would be an enigma
to Mr. T. H. Kennaugh, Esq. the Architect of the original Terminal.
This greater emphasis on safety and security calls for
improvements in passenger facilities and comforts, as it lengthens the
time you, the passenger, will spend in the building.The airlines which
use this Airport are providing a modern and efficient service for the
Island and, as the flying experience starts with your arrival at the
Airport, passengers can expect 'up to date' terminal facilities to compliment
those provided in the aircraft.
By the addition of modern technology the efficiency of
this Terminal will be improved, smoothing your passage and getting you
and your luggage to the right destination, while at the same time maintaining
the ambiance of this period building.
Modernisation
Over the past few years the Isle of Man Airport has been expanding
to accommodate its increased business. New office blocks for instance,
to accommodate the Airline Companies who generate the business, and
more importantly, the provision of a fine, new Departure Lounge and
Arrivals Pier. Gone is the old 'Gate 8' which was dear to many a business
travellers' heart, and in its place is a comfortable and spacious new
lounge which would grace any modern International Airport, with catering
and shopping for those 'last minute' requirements before the flight.
Many compliments have been paid to the new facilities
by the travellers who have experienced them.
Outside!
The Department is now to start refurbishment of the older parts
of the terminal building, and like the renovation of any old classic,
the first step is to ensure the structure and fabric is sound. For greater
energy efficiency and passenger comfort the outer shell of the building
is to be clad with insulation and a waterproof overcoat to keep out
the weather. The scaffolding cloak hides the application at present
but when removed, the face of the Terminal will be refreshed and as
it originally looked.
"The problems with flat roofs" is something
heard from many house owners these days and this 50 year old is no exception.
So, to complement its new overcoat, a new hat is to be fitted. A shallow
pitch insulated roof will shed the rain, and with the replacement of
the ageing steel window frames, the structure and fabric of the building
will be better than the original.
New seating areas will be provided out of the bustle of
the main hall and the area for shopping is to be enlarged. But first,
good communications are paramount to the efficiency of a modem Airport
and so, the building is to be rewired with additional phone and computer
cabling. Taking advantage of the disruption, new heating pipes will
be installed for a system that can maximise the effects of the newly
insulated shell. This will all be contained within the false ceiling
of the offices so it is unlikely to trouble you as a passenger, but
you are likely to be aware of the replacement of the glazed panels to
the balcony at first floor level and the tidying up of the advertisement
signs around the balcony.
Inside!
As with any commercial 'Mall' the internal layout and style is always
developing to accommodate its businesses, and as the picture develops,
illustrations of the layout and decor will be displayed inside the Ronaldsway
Terminal. Some main features which will be incorporated are however,
obvious. Checking in for your flight for example, can be a tiresome
chore, especially if having to queue, so new 'Check In Desks' and Baggage
Handling are to be introduced to speed up the process.
When?
The refurbishment will be phased, and should be complete within
the next 2 years. Whilst apologising that there may be some inconvenience,
the works will be carried out as discreetly and as quickly as possible.
With the programme and progress being displayed inside the Terminal
you will be able to follow the progress of the work in the knowledge
that any disruption you encounter is temporary, and that when complete,
Your Airport will be worthy of pride and can provide you with the travel
comforts you expect.
Gow jee turrys sauchey (Have a safe journey)
Ballasalla,
Isle of Man
IM9 2AS
http://www.iom-airport.com
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