It was based at Ronaldsway Airport, Isle of Man, and equipped with De Havilland Dragon Rapides and Douglas C-47 Dakotas.

Services commenced on 1 November 1982 with the first flight, JE601 from Isle of Man to Glasgow, operated by an Embraer Bandeirante wet leased from Genair.

[7] In 1985 Manx was awarded a nightly postal service operating one of its Shorts 360s from Ronaldsway to Manchester, Luton, and Blackpool.

At the beginning of 1986 Manx took over the Liverpool to Heathrow route from parent British Midland, adding a fourth Shorts 360, G-WACK, to operate the service.

The group owned 100% of British Midland, Loganair, and Eurocity Express and retained control of 75% of Manx.

In mid-1987 the airline announced plans to upgrade the Isle of Man to Heathrow service to all jet operation with DC-9 aircraft.

Unable to acquire its own jets, a BAC 1-11 was leased from Airways International Cymru for the London route.

With the introduction of jets in 1987 and the arrival of the first BAe ATP in 1988, the Viscounts were retired with Manx organising a series of 'champagne' flights around the island on 19 October.

[9][7][10] At a press conference on 27 March 1991, Manx announced orders for two of the larger Jetstream 41 aircraft following the rollout of the type at Prestwick that day.

Two additional ATPs and a second BAe 146-200 (G-MANS) were leased in early 1994 following the transfer of some routes from British Midland.

[20] In late 1998, Manx changed its corporate identity and introduced a new livery featuring a dark belly and a new Triskelion tail canvas.

The last flight was planned to be flown by BAe 146 G-MIMA, from London (Gatwick) to Isle of Man Airport (Ronaldsway).