I have to agree with on time all the time. For several years, a friend and I have been wanting to visit and the air fares are the stopper. The ferry is not an option for me, so it's fly or nothing. Thus far, it's nothing and no sign of change.
For 26 years, my mother lived on the IOM and I saw the prices slowly come down but still high per mile. Eventually, the did manage to expand Ronaldsway but the costs of making a short notice trip to see became unsustainable for us.
Incidentally, I read in the thread about the possibility of splitting the Steamship Company? Problem there would be that one company can use one set of back office people for admin, IT and so on - if you have two companies that means two lots of back office and that means two lots of costs for the pax to pay. I sit to be corrected.
If your Council does not want more tourists, they are suceeding!