Blue Islands - ceases trading

[richard1976]

Using a wet leased ATR 72 from Blue Islands

Newquay flight route to London to be restored later this month

A temporary deal with airline Skybus allows route between Newquay and London to resume.

www.bbc.co.uk

Its seems that now Blue Islands are on the brink of collapse as well

https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-11-14/airline-blue-islands-on-brink-of-collapse-itv-news-understands

 

[richard1976]

Channel Islands airline Blue Islands has ceased trading with immediate effect.

Blue Islands ceases trading and cancels all flights

The airline operated flights to various locations in the British Isles, and to Bruges and Paris.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[1D53]

Bizarre that they only launched an expanded network for 2026 the other week!

 

[gingerheid]

I did not see that coming. The bloodbath that is regional aviation in the British Isles continues. The only operators left that have what can be descirbed as a network are Loganair and Emerald? (both, thankfully, profitable!)

 

[LucyP]

The Jersey government will have to step in, because Blue Islands provided Jersey with so many flights. They need their own Aurigny as Guernsey has.

 

[daodao]

Its seems that now Blue Islands are on the brink of collapse as well

https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-11-14/airline-blue-islands-on-brink-of-collapse-itv-news-understands

Blue Islands has now ceased operations, leaving a few route gaps including between Jersey and Guernsey, but most key routes to Jersey are served by British Airways and Easyjet.

 

[Mojo]

Wonder how this will affect the (re) launch of the PSO flight between Newquay and Gatwick next week? AIUI Skybus who only got the contract last week were planning to lease an ATR72 from Blue Islands!

 

[YorkshireBear]

Bad few weeks for regional UK airlines. I had heard rumours loganair were wanting to set up a base in Southampton. This might expedite that decision if true allowing them to step in and run some jersey flights.

I can't link a source as I simply went on the loganair website but tickets are available starting Sunday for flights from Jersey/Guernsey to Southampton. And from Monday from Jersey/Guernsey to Bristol and Exeter. So they have stepped in to fill some of that breach absolutely rapidly.

Wonder if they will take on the Blue Island ATR-72s as well.

 

[Howardh]

Looks like Logan air will take some of the routes, if so (or any other airline) do they use ex-blue islands planes and crew?

Loganair steps-in and Aurigny steps-up as Jersey-based airline Blue Islands suspends operations [latest]

In the wake of Jersey-based airline, Blue Islands, suspending operations, Loganair steps in to support the island connectivity Loganair have

channeleye.media

Loganair steps-in and Aurigny steps-up as Jersey-based airline Blue Islands suspends operations​

 

[daodao]

Bad few weeks for regional UK airlines. I had heard rumours loganair were wanting to set up a base in Southampton. This might expedite that decision if true allowing them to step in and run some jersey flights.

I can't link a source as I simply went on the loganair website but tickets are available starting Sunday for flights from Jersey/Guernsey to Southampton. And from Monday from Jersey/Guernsey to Bristol and Exeter. So they have stepped in to fill some of that breach absolutely rapidly.

Wonder if they will take on the Blue Island ATR-72s as well.

Aurigny are also adding interim services from Guernsey to Jersey and Southampton.

 

[Sealink]

The Jersey government will have to step in, because Blue Islands provided Jersey with so many flights. They need their own Aurigny as Guernsey has.

They are still owed millions by Blue Islands since COVID.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 15 Nov 2025 ==

Bad few weeks for regional UK airlines. I had heard rumours loganair were wanting to set up a base in Southampton. This might expedite that decision if true allowing them to step in and run some jersey flights.

I can't link a source as I simply went on the loganair website but tickets are available starting Sunday for flights from Jersey/Guernsey to Southampton. And from Monday from Jersey/Guernsey to Bristol and Exeter. So they have stepped in to fill some of that breach absolutely rapidly.

Wonder if they will take on the Blue Island ATR-72s as well.

Loganair had previously announced a base at Southampton (way back in March) but services launched where at a much lower frequency than in the press release.

Southampton base announced

 

[pug1]

No money to be made in regional air services any more. The remote working and meeting facilities has seen to it that businesses no longer need to invest so much in travel as they might have done in the past. Jersey is well served by easyJet and others which means, due to economies of scale, they’re able to offer a ticket price much lower than can be offered on smaller turboprop aircraft. Aurigny survived because of the state propping them up, Emerald somehow survive but mostly because they connect NI/Eire with the U.K., Loganair of course are able to look after the HAIL Scottish core lifeline services. After that there’s unfortunately not much room for others.

Just a sign of the times. 30 odd years ago you’d have airlines flying all over the place, but though there are more people travelling by air now than there has ever been, the market is served by a smaller number of high volume carriers. It’s why I cannot fathom assumed demand for reopening airports like Donny and Manston.

 

[daodao]

No money to be made in regional air services any more. The remote working and meeting facilities has seen to it that businesses no longer need to invest so much in travel as they might have done in the past. Jersey is well served by easyJet and others which means, due to economies of scale, they’re able to offer a ticket price much lower than can be offered on smaller turboprop aircraft. Aurigny survived because of the state propping them up, Emerald somehow survive but mostly because they connect NI/Eire with the U.K., Loganair of course are able to look after the HAIL Scottish core lifeline services. After that there’s unfortunately not much room for others.

Just a sign of the times. 30 odd years ago you’d have airlines flying all over the place, but though there are more people travelling by air now than there has ever been, the market is served by a smaller number of high volume carriers. It’s why I cannot fathom assumed demand for reopening airports like Donny and Manston.

Jersey Airport's runway is long enough for the A319/A320/A321 planes operated by Easyjet, whereas Guernsey's runway isn't. Thus Aurigny's services to/from Guernsey are less vulnerable to predation by lower cost carriers than services to Jersey that were operated by Blue Islands and are going to be provided by Loganair.

 

[pug1]

Jersey Airport's runway is long enough for the A319/A320/A321 planes operated by Easyjet, whereas Guernsey's runway isn't. Thus Aurigny's services to/from Guernsey are less vulnerable to predation by lower cost carriers than services to Jersey that were operated by Blue Islands and are going to be provided by Loganair.

Yes I neglected to mention Guernsey and of course Alderney.. Similar to Loganair in its core niche.

Wonder how long Loganair will keep it up to be honest.

 

[Watershed]

Jersey Airport's runway is long enough for the A319/A320/A321 planes operated by Easyjet, whereas Guernsey's runway isn't. Thus Aurigny's services to/from Guernsey are less vulnerable to predation by lower cost carriers than services to Jersey that were operated by Blue Islands and are going to be provided by Loganair.

Guernsey's runway is just about long enough for lightly loaded A319s - BA is rumoured to be starting a LHR-GCI-LHR route next year.

 

[FinsburyPark]

Somehow i can see easyJet and Ryanair taking over many of these routes.

EasyJet already have LGW-JER and JER-LGW and Ryanair have STN-NQY and NQY-STN.

Maybe a A319 or B7378 are just the ticket.

I dont know if a MAX would work?

I also think easyjet do LGW-IOM

 

[Mojo]

Guernsey's runway is just about long enough for lightly loaded A319s - BA is rumoured to be starting a LHR-GCI-LHR route next year.

If true that is potentially good news - the main thing that’s put me off visiting Guernsey is the terrible unreliability of Augriny - they regularly appear near the bottom of the reliability table for airline departures from the UK and it seems like every time I’m at Gatwick I see one of their planes on the departure board that’s several hours late.

 

[Watershed]

If true that is potentially good news - the main thing that’s put me off visiting Guernsey is the terrible unreliability of Augriny - they regularly appear near the bottom of the reliability table for airline departures from the UK and it seems like every time I’m at Gatwick I see one of their planes on the departure board that’s several hours late.

Like the JER route it would be subject to subsidy. So in a sense it depends on whether the government there wants to subsidise BA or Aurigny.

 

[FinsburyPark]

If true that is potentially good news - the main thing that’s put me off visiting Guernsey is the terrible unreliability of Augriny - they regularly appear near the bottom of the reliability table for airline departures from the UK and it seems like every time I’m at Gatwick I see one of their planes on the departure board that’s several hours late.

Also the price. I like to do EDTs (Extreme Day Trips). The idea is take the early morning flight and spend 6 hours on destination. Then fly home same day.

I wanted to fly to Luxembourg and was dissapointed the the flight times on Luxair from London City did not meet my needs. I missed the chance to fly a Q400 which I'd have looked forward to. In the end I booked Ryanair from Stansted for £40 return amd was done with it

As an Avgeek I still quite like the idea pf trying the Q400. So i looked up prices to go fron LGW to GCI in March 2026.

They wanted something like £220.

That instantly put me off as I can book an EDT (and have done) to Athens for £71 return on easyJet and Wizz but to go as far as Guernsey, Aurigny want circa £220.

I guess my chance to fly a Q400 can wait till some other day

 

[AlastairFraser]

Wonder how this will affect the (re) launch of the PSO flight between Newquay and Gatwick next week? AIUI Skybus who only got the contract last week were planning to lease an ATR72 from Blue Islands!

I was thinking about that too. Perhaps they might be able to buy that from the administrators and wet lease crew from another operator?

The Jersey government will have to step in, because Blue Islands provided Jersey with so many flights. They need their own Aurigny as Guernsey has.

Perhaps they can take a stake in Aurigny and invest to expand it.
Come to think of it, a merged Skybus and Aurigny as the airline for both the SW and Channel Islands' regional links could work out.

 

[Airline Man]

Jersey Airport's runway is long enough for the A319/A320/A321 planes operated by Easyjet, whereas Guernsey's runway isn't. Thus Aurigny's services to/from Guernsey are less vulnerable to predation by lower cost carriers than services to Jersey that were operated by Blue Islands and are going to be provided by Loganair.

BA used to operate Tristars and 757s to Jersey!

 

[Tetchytyke]

The Jersey government will have to step in, because Blue Islands provided Jersey with so many flights. They need their own Aurigny as Guernsey has.

Aurigny has cost the Guernsey taxpayer quite a lot more than the £9m owed by Blue Islands. Aurigny is just about on a level financial footing now they’ve got rid of their jets, but the reduction in their fleet has also resulted in the unreliability we see with them now.

Jersey will not want a stake in a Guernsey airline. Same reason why the Isle of Man didn’t get into bed with Aurigny after the collapse of Flybe v1.

Jersey Airport's runway is long enough for the A319/A320/A321 planes operated by Easyjet, whereas Guernsey's runway isn't.

Guernsey also doesn’t have open skies, as Loganair have just found out.

But EasyJet really is the elephant in the room with regional air travel. EasyJet can hoover up the passengers with an A319 or A320. They can-and do- price dump when they first muscle in to a route before gradually raising fares and cutting frequencies once they’ve established themselves. They also have the economies of scale that comes with being such a large airline.

I’m relieved that EasyJet and Loganair have reached some equilibrium on their flights to the Isle of Man. EasyJet have gradually withdrawn their midweek flights to Manchester and Liverpool and even winter weekend flights. And once you’ve added a hold bag, my experience is that EasyJet and Loganair aren’t very far away on price.

 

[Mojo]

Guernsey's runway is just about long enough for lightly loaded A319s - BA is rumoured to be starting a LHR-GCI-LHR route next year.

Not sure if this is the best place to put it or in the main BA thread but it has been confirmed in the press today that BA will be launching a daily route from April.

A new British Airways route between Heathrow and Guernsey airports has been set up.

The services operating at lunchtime from the UK's busiest airport will start in April as part of a three-year deal with flights appearing on the airline's website on Thursday.
Guernsey's top political committee voted by majority against subsidising the service, but it is expected the route will be supported by the Committee for Economic Development and the States Trading Supervisory Board in other ways.
Alan Sillett from the Guernsey Hospitality Association welcomed the news: "This is fantastic news, exactly the kind of investment in connectivity Guernsey needs right now."

Guernsey to Heathrow route set to launch in April

Flights between the two airports will operate from Heathrow as part of a three-year deal.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[FinsburyPark]

Not sure if this is the best place to put it or in the main BA thread but it has been confirmed in the press today that BA will be launching a daily route from April.

A new British Airways route between Heathrow and Guernsey airports has been set up.

Guernsey to Heathrow route set to launch in April

Flights between the two airports will operate from Heathrow as part of a three-year deal.

www.bbc.co.uk

I wonder what equipment they will use? I heard that you cannot get an A319 into there.

Maybe it might be a BA flight code using Loganair metal

 

[AlterEgo]

I wonder what equipment they will use? I heard that you cannot get an A319 into there.

Maybe it might be a BA flight code using Loganair metal

A 319 will fit into Guernsey if it is lightly loaded. The flights will operate using the 319.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

A 319 will fit into Guernsey if it is lightly loaded. The flights will operate using the 319.

Does this mean BA's final few A319s have a stay of execution, given they're nearly all now phased out?

 

[Tetchytyke]

I wonder what equipment they will use? I heard that you cannot get an A319 into there.

Maybe it might be a BA flight code using Loganair metal

I believe you can get an A319 or A320 into Guernsey, just not a full one.

 

[Mojo]

Does this mean BA's final few A319s have a stay of execution, given they're nearly all now phased out?

I don’t see them being phased out in the near future. They still have 20 active in their fleet and have even refurbished some of the ex BMI ones earlier this year.

 

[FinsburyPark]

I believe you can get an A319 or A320 into Guernsey, just not a full one.

What about a full one from Heathrow?

Because the fuel it needs is a lot less.

I've flown on an A319 from Athens to London Gatwick so even an A319 can pack some range.

The fuel thats needed for London Heathrow to Guernsey would be a mere percentage of that for Athens to London Gatwick.

If not just block off all middle seats and only fill the windows and the aisles.

 

[Bill57p9]

I wonder what equipment they will use? I heard that you cannot get an A319 into there.

Maybe it might be a BA flight code using Loganair metal

Or an Emerald ATR72, given the relationship between Emerald Airlines and BA’s parent IAG. This years summer schedule had this arrangement on the Glasgow <> Gatwick route