Request re. payments made by airlines for extension to Airport hours

Summary

A request was made to the Department of Infrastructure regarding airline payments for extended Isle of Man Airport hours during April to June 2022. The authority disclosed the number of days extensions occurred, total invoiced charges of £70,818, and confirmed that only £16,608 had been paid to date.

Key Facts

• The Airport closed within published hours on 3 days, within seasonal extension on 19 days, and beyond seasonal extension on 69 days between April and June 2022.
• Extension charges were incurred on 23 days in April, 28 days in May, and 30 days in June.
• All incurred charges were invoiced with a total value of £70,818.
• Invoices were issued on multiple dates in May, June, and July 2022 with a 30-day payment term.
• As of the response date, only £16,608 of the total invoiced amount had been paid.

Data Disclosed

• 3 days
• 19 days
• 69 days
• 23 days
• 28 days
• 30 days
• £70,818
• £16,608
• 09/05/22
• 13/06/22
• 07/07/22
• 30 days
• 2533665
• 2022-07-14
• 2022-07-22

Original Request

1. During April, May and June 2022, on how many occasions did airlines request that the Isle of Man Airport opening hours be extended to facilitate the arrival and/or departure of delayed flights? 2. On how many of these days was in appropriate to levy charges to at least one airline, in accordance with the scale of charges which appears on the Airport website? 3. How many of the charges referred to in (2) above have actually been invoiced to an airline, and what is their total value? 4. On what date(s) were these charges invoiced, and on what date(s) is/was payment required to be received? 5. What is the total value of the charges referred to in (2) and (3) above which have been actually paid? Thank you.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 2RF

Contact: FOI Response Team Telephone: (01624) 686785 Email: dpo-doi@gov.im

Our ref: 2533665 22 July 2022

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 14 July 2022 and which states:

"1. During April, May and June 2022, on how many occasions did airlines request that the Isle of Man Airport opening hours be extended to facilitate the arrival and/or departure of delayed flights? 2. On how many of these days was in appropriate to levy charges to at least one airline, in accordance with the scale of charges which appears on the Airport website? 3. How many of the charges referred to in (2) above have actually been invoiced to an airline, and what is their total value? 4. On what date(s) were these charges invoiced, and on what date(s) is/was payment required to be received? 5. What is the total value of the charges referred to in (2) and (3) above which have been actually paid?"

Our response to your request is as follows: 1. During the specified period, the Airport had a request for a seasonal extension beyond its published opening hours which applies every day. Additional requests for further extensions beyond this do not always contain the reason and therefore the Department is not able to answer the specific question accurately. However, the following information held by the Department shows the number of days within the specified period on which the Airport has closed: within its published operating hours; within its agreed seasonal extension; or beyond the agreed seasonal extension: Operating Hours Number of days (1 Apr – 30 Jun) Published Operating Hours 0600-2045 Mon-Sat, 0645-2045 Sun 3 Seasonal Extension, to 2130. 19 Beyond 2130 69

Please note that this data does not include occasions when the aerodrome was opened outside of published hours to facilitate an emergency air ambulance flight. This data refers to closing times and therefore it would be incorrect to infer that the Airport received an extension request on 69 or 88 (19 + 69) occasions. 2. Extension charges were incurred on 23 days in April, 28 days in May, 30 days in June. 3. All charges have been invoiced, totalling £70,818. 4. Invoices were sent on 09/05/22, 13/06/22, 07/07/22, 13/06/22, 07/07/22. Payment is required 30 days from the date of the invoice. 5. Of the £70,818 owing, £16,608 has been paid.

Please quote the reference number 2533665 in any future communications.

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We will now close your request as of this date.