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Blue Islands airline: A Bailiwick airline is set to take over Guernsey–Jersey services for the long term. The CEO confirmed the move.
Blue Islands, which had roughly 100 employees, announced on Friday that it had closed down and voided all bookings.
The carrier previously handled inter-island flights and routes across the British Isles. It also operated services to Bruges and Paris.
Aurigny and Loganair have moved quickly to run rescue flights for Blue Islands passengers left without travel options.
The help comes after the airline’s sudden shutdown. Officials have also issued guidance for anyone caught up in the disruption.
The States of Guernsey said Guernsey Airport will extend its operating hours whenever needed. This is to make sure displaced passengers can be accommodated over the next few days.
Aurigny CEO Nico Bezuidenhout said the carrier, which has been part of the Bailiwick since 1968, is preparing to take on the inter-island service permanently.
He said the Guernsey–Jersey service had been one of Aurigny’s most important routes for many years.
No other airline, he noted, has operated it for as long. Aurigny now plans to return to the route and restore that vital link for islanders.
Loganair is also preparing to run the inter-island service, along with several of Blue Islands’ former routes.
Mr. Bezuidenhout said the collapse came as “tremendously unexpected” and confirmed the airline is stepping up to help those affected.
He said their main goal is to get passengers home as quickly as they can, and to do so with reliable service. He added that restoring certainty around future capacity is just as important.
Addressing concerns about Aurigny’s financial position, Mr. Bezuidenhout said the airline is a state-owned asset and is operating at a monthly break-even point. Because of that, it is not placing any extra financial strain on consumers.
Guernsey Airport director Richard Thomasson said the news had come as “a real surprise to all of us.”
He said they had been operating in full contingency mode from the moment the situation unfolded.
He described the partnership with Aurigny as strong and said both teams were already working through updated plans and new schedules.
Those efforts, he added, are well underway. He also emphasised that protecting essential lifeline routes, especially the connection to Southampton, has been a priority.
Mr. Thomasson noted that the situation is still developing. He said the airport will continue to back Aurigny and stands ready to support any additional services the airline chooses to operate.
Work Underway
Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, who leads the Policy & Resources Committee, said her thoughts were with everyone whose work or travel plans had been disrupted.
She praised the teams at Aurigny and the airport for reacting so quickly. They organised extra flights at short notice to help people get home.
She said this rapid response shows the value of having a homegrown airline that can act immediately when needed.
She added that teams across the States are putting in significant effort to restore stability and keep vital connections in place.
P&R said Guernsey Airport and Aurigny have already shared updated advice for Blue Islands passengers who have been affected.
The Guernsey Chamber of Commerce said it is working closely with Jersey’s chamber to ensure both islands’ business communities get the support they need during this difficult time.
It added that they will be speaking with their governments and port authorities to explore long-term options and protect vital travel links for Channel Island residents and businesses.
It said it understood the importance of medical and other essential lifeline travel. Ensuring these routes continue without disruption is a central part of its talks with governments and transport providers.
The chamber added that the situation has underlined the need for stronger policy coordination between the islands’ governments.
It said closer cooperation is crucial to maintain and strengthen the transport links that the Channel Islands and the wider region depend on.
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