Flybe is to cut its daily Liverpool flights from four to three from April.

It’s blaming poor passenger numbers.

Users of the patient transfer service learned that there would be changes to the number of flights from Liverpool Monday to Thursday as one had been withdrawn.

The axed flight is the 3.55pm service from Ronaldsway to Liverpool and its 5.20pm return.

The change is due to come into force on April 1, the day that Flybe opens its new base in the island.

The Liverpool flights will continue to operate as they currently do on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The change has upset members of the Facebook group Isle of Man Patient Transfer.

One parent said: ’It’s true I received this with my daughter’s travel arrangement as she goes every three months. Yes it really is a very long day.’

Another user of the service added: ’Ridiculous. I hate having to wait for the last flight home, especially as you’ve had to get the early flight out!’

A Flybe spokesman told the Examiner: ’Flybe continually reviews our flights and network performance and where passenger numbers remain below sustainable projections with no sign of improvement, re-scheduling is considered in order to optimise resources.

’The two evening weekday services on the above route have not been performing well enough to support operating both the 5.30pm and 8pm flights.

’The decision was therefore taken to adjust the timetable to bring the later flight forward to 7pm with effect from Monday, April 1, with the intention of making it more convenient for both business and health contract passengers.’