The regional airline Blue Islands, based in the Channel Islands, announced this Friday the immediate cessation of its operations, canceling all future flights. The news surprised many, especially since just one day prior the company had posted a recruitment campaign for positions such as pilots, engineers, and cabin crew chief.
In a statement published on its website, the company expressed: “We regret to inform you that Blue Islands has suspended its commercial operations effective from November 14, 2025. All future flights operated by Blue Islands have been canceled.” It also warned passengers not to go to the airports unless they had alternative travel arrangements.
Impact on Passengers and Employees
The airline, which employed approximately 100 staff, operated from its bases in Jersey and Guernsey, connecting these islands with destinations such as Southampton, Bristol, East Midlands, Exeter, Dublin, Newcastle, Norwich, Paris, and Bruges.
Affected travelers who purchased their tickets directly from the airline were recommended to contact their bank or credit card provider. Those who booked through travel agencies or tour companies were urged to get in touch with those entities.
Sector Response: Rescue Flights and Medical Assistance
Following the suspension of operations, other regional airlines acted quickly to mitigate the impact on passengers. Aurigny, a codeshare partner of Blue Islands, scheduled ten additional flights between Guernsey and Southampton, and eight more between Guernsey and Jersey, covering the period from Saturday to Wednesday.
For its part, the Scottish airline Loganair implemented special rescue fares for affected passengers on selected routes starting Sunday.
Given that Blue Islands provided an essential service for patients requiring medical treatment in the UK, Health and Care Jersey (HCJ) reported that it would contact those with scheduled clinical appointments or who were already in the UK receiving care.
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A Wake-Up Call for the Air Connectivity Model
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Blue Islands received an £8.5 million loan from the Jersey government to maintain essential air services. However, a report from the audit office revealed that, until last summer, £7 million was still outstanding.
Alan Sillett, Chairman and Director of the Guernsey Hospitality Association, expressed on social media: “Tonight’s news should be a real wake-up call. Guernsey’s air connectivity model is likely to shift from an 85% monopoly to a 100% one. This demonstrates our lack of resilience. We need major airlines to enter the market. Regional airlines are very fragile unless they have a rescue option.”
History of a Key Airline for the Channel Islands
Blue Islands began operations in 1999 under the name Le Cocq’s Air Link, transporting perishable goods from Bournemouth to Alderney with Britten Norman Islander aircraft. In 2002, it began offering passenger flights and, a year later, adopted the name Rockhopper. In 2006, it was rebranded as Blue Islands and, in 2016, became a franchise partner of Flybe. After the latter’s closure in 2020, the airline reverted to its original name.
End of an Era
In its final statement, a company spokesperson expressed: “After 26 years of serving the Channel Islands, we deeply regret that Blue Islands has suspended its operations tonight. Following a very constructive dialogue with the government of Jersey in recent months, which included assessments of future options, we were informed this afternoon that they could not provide further support. This has forced us to suspend flights immediately while we consider the options available and how we can assist our customers, employees, and stakeholders.”
The closure of Blue Islands marks the end of an era for air connectivity in the Channel Islands, raising questions about the future of regional transport and the need to strengthen the sector’s resilience.
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Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.