Originally Posted by
cumbrianboy
I'd agree, 70 seaters offering better frequencies are what the Island needs. The ATR is the ideal aircraft for the IOM as the operating costs are the lowest in class, it's reliable and has the correct capacity. You can offer good fares and decent frequency.
The airbus is lovely and of course a marginally more comfortable experience (but on a 20 min flight does it matter?) but few routes of the Island will support that capacity on anything other than a couple of flights a week which isn't ideal from a connectivity / economic point of view.
Almost choked and fell off my chair when you mentioned the ATR as being ideal! No tailwind capability, poor power to weight, marginal crosswind capability and appalling reliability.
Frankly the ATP was a far better bet for our climate and weather. The Q400 was also pretty good at bad weather.
Just saying....