The issue here is the IOM's strategy for connectivity twofold; needs of the resident and the need for inbound tourism.
There has been a decline in inbound tourism since the 1990's, mainly due to the growth of cheap flights to the sun belt by budget airlines. These budget airlines also offer the prize of volume inbound tourism to the island. However, they also have a hugely detrimental impact on any small regional carrier who is trying to sustain a viable operation from the island who also doesn't enjoy the competitive advantage of a low cost base.
easyJet is a commercial operation and has competing opportunities and IOM is probably way down the list. Hence they'll find frequency attractive on Fri and Sun in particular and not necessarily when the business traveller may require it etc.
The island needs an airline akin to Manx Airlines who were right sized for the IOM. They had flexible
seasonal scheduling to take advantage of inbound tourism while serving the core markets of LON, LPL, MAN, BHX and DUB. The other core routes of BHD, GLA and EDI were served at different times by them but often by others. Manx also offered a proportion of value for money fares.
The island needs to find a way to attract an airline to build a schedule for the islander with appropriate sized aircraft at appropriate timings. Mechanisms needs to be put in place to make this sustainable for said niche operator.
Is the solution to put into place discounts for islanders to fly, something like Aer Arann Islands do in Ireland? Making the discount available on the airline who comprehensively serves the IOM, business timings etc?
The question of how to (partially) fund cost for this is relevant. Perhaps consider a small departure fee from the airport that everybody pays and is used to fund the discounts for the islanders only? Maybe £5 each. Just a suggestion. Other mechanisms could be considered.
Make seasonal and off peak flying attractive for easyJet which would ostensibly serve the inbound tourist. Either way in my opinion, there needs to be a limit to the scale of low cost flying and a certain degree of protection needs to be provided for the airline who offers the business schedule. Otherwise, the IOM won't serve neither the needs of the resident nor business traveller adequately and lead to an over reliance on the likes of easyJet.
I'd actually like to work on such a strategy. Equally, I'd like to know what metrics or KPIs exist that show the impact of tourism to the island as a consequence of easyJet's service?