Isle of Man TT air passenger numbers up in 2026

Passenger numbers for the Isle of Man TT period rose by just under 2% in 2026, as air travel partly offset a drop in ferry traffic. Air passengers rose 6% to 56,106, while ferry arrivals fell 4% to 37,941, leaving the overall increase at 1,793 people year over year. The two-week TT festival ran from 25 May to 6 June and tested summer travel amid mixed weather, with opening week sunny and race week plagued by rain and fog. Airport director Mark Beveridge welcomed the turnout, noting the event’s importance to island visitors and residents.

Ferry operator Isle of Man Steam Packet Company ran three vessels during the festival, carrying passengers from Liverpool, Lancashire, Dublin and Larne on the Manxman and Manannan, while the Ben‑my‑Chree carried freight to maximise space for passengers and TT teams. Visit Isle of Man has a target of 500,000 visitors by 2032, as tourism aims to rebound from 2025 and the TT remains central to the island’s hospitality sector. The data underline the event’s enduring economic role despite weather challenges during race week.