GREEK-BASED Minoan Air plans to operate scheduled flights from Oxford to Munich, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Dublin, and Edinburgh.

Bosses at Oxford Airport declined to comment on a statement from Minoan Air, which said the flights would be introduced gradually over two months from January.

It came after news that flights to Jersey and the Isle of Man from Oxford Airport will be dropped next year.

Bosses at airline Manx2.com blame declining passenger numbers and have already trimmed the daily flight from Kidlington to the islands to four days a week. From January 7 next year, the service will stop altogether pending a review.

James Dillon-Godfray, business development director at the airport, said: “After a successful launch with summer season loads higher than anticipated, Manx2.com is reassessing ongoing winter schedules which are showing loads below expectation for what is normally the low season.

“Seat sales from January 7 through February have been suspended for now, pending a reassessment. It is anticipated recommencement of the services will be sorted in the new year.”

Isle of Man-based airline Manx2.com has recently been hit by fierce competition from budget flight provider EasyJet.