Originally Posted by
vlieger
This doesn't surprise me. I can't see a replacement happening any time soon. Travel to and from the island is about to get very expensive. So much for the "free market" providing.
I'm surprised the Manx government haven't yet used the Steam Packet (who were nationalised in 2018) to start Manannan's season of running a few weeks early to at least provide alternative options for those travelling to/from Liverpool without relying on the infrequent easyJet schedule.
I appreciate Flybe's collapse was difficult to anticipate as all the noises up until the start of this week indicated its future was safe, but from an outsider's perspective the ferry option is something the government could do to make life easier and maintain a daily transport connection to Liverpool. That said, I don't know how quickly the Steam Packet can mobilise Manannan into service, though they've managed in previous winters if Ben-my-Chree was unavailable for whatever reason.