In response to
VB's original question at #2443, the local hacks here don't seem to have picked up on this at all, so no informed or official comment so far.
One way or another, something had to give on IOM-LGW since easyJet muscled into FlyBe's 'territory' last year and I suspect that a total FlyBe surrender at LGW will get the IOM Airport Management off the hook, compared with a scenario where IOM-LGW is canned by FlyBe in isolation.
However, if those LGW slots do go, then it may be a catalyst for the end of the IOM base. With no LGW, or a credible London market replacement, the scale of the FlyBe's IOM base would reduce to the point where they might call it a day on LPL too, and run MAN from the other end. SOU, LTN and BRS are just marginal cost fillers, which would likely disappear too.
So quite scary prospects both for employees, and for regular travellers who have become used to choice and some of the cheapest fares the IOM has ever seen.