Loss of Manx air bridge will be keenly felt

There was something comforting about the link, offering not just a beautiful place to go but a like-minded companion to cling to as the pandemic storm rages all around.

With Jersey, the UK and France all following very different paths to our own, the Isle of Man could be relied upon to understand our challenges and share data, solutions and sport.

By all accounts the bond was similarly valued by the Manx government and its people. They too now face a long winter sheltering behind 30 miles of the Irish Sea observing the UK’s ongoing struggle.

While the Tynwald must put the health of its people above all else, it is disappointing that the air link was cut so abruptly.

As was explained by the Director of Public Health on Friday the number of active cases – eight today – is not the full picture.

A single cluster, even one stemming from an unknown source, is not the same as multiple outbreaks. Contacts of the index case – symptomatic or not – have been isolated and tested, greatly reducing the risk of ongoing community transmission.

Just as the Isle of Man’s five imported cases do not indicate the disease is out of control, if the Guernsey cluster has been contained both islands could be back at zero in a few weeks.

Sadly, that will be too late for the air bridge. Scores of passengers from both islands have missed the half-term break and Aurigny is talking of ‘exploring the possibility’ of renewing the links for summer 2021.

Their caution is justifiable. The sudden decision to cut the link will have been another blow for its long-suffering management and staff. Having been forced to repatriate scores of passengers and refunded hundreds of others the airline will think long and hard before restarting operations.

Passengers from both islands will be similarly wary. As one Manx resident put it, if you are going to have to isolate for 14 days there are places you would go before Guernsey.