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The collapse of Blue Islands, a Jersey-based airline employing approximately 100 staff, has left many passengers stranded. The company announced on Friday that it had ceased operations and canceled all bookings, displacing over 1,000 travelers. In response, several airlines have mobilized efforts to provide “rescue flights” to accommodate those affected, with Aurigny and Loganair adding extra services on key routes to assist stranded passengers.
Starting Sunday, Loganair will operate flights between Jersey and Guernsey, Exeter, Bristol, and Southampton, as well as routes connecting Guernsey to Southampton. Meanwhile, Aurigny has introduced additional flights between Southampton, Guernsey, and Jersey beginning Saturday, continuing initially through Wednesday. Both carriers have introduced special rescue fares to ease the burden on passengers forced to alter their travel plans. Loganair expressed an understanding of the challenges facing travelers, emphasizing their swift operational response from 16 November. Aurigny conveyed its deep regret over Blue Islands’ cessation and the immediate steps taken to support affected customers throughout the Channel Islands.
Luke Farajallah, Loganair’s CEO, acknowledged Blue Islands’ vital role in the UK’s regional aviation sector and described the company’s sudden closure as “another sad day for regional aviation.” He noted that Loganair acted quickly to cover routes from Jersey and is exploring the possibility of establishing a permanent base on the island. At Jersey Airport, operations director Ashley Maggs expressed sympathy for Blue Islands’ staff, describing the news as “disheartening” but reassured that the airport had been working closely with Loganair to ensure that replacement flights would begin smoothly on Sunday.
Passengers affected by the airline’s collapse shared their experiences. John and Maureen Stranger, originally booked on a Saturday flight home to Southampton after attending a reunion in Jersey, managed to secure seats on a British Airways flight to Gatwick, though rebooking took hours. They described the airline’s failure as “shocking and disappointing,” praising hotel management for their support. David and Anne Patterson, visiting Jersey and intending to fly home Tuesday, called the news a “bit of a shock” but appreciated that Loganair had provided an alternate flight to Southampton, even arriving slightly earlier than their original schedule.
Blue Islands revealed that Jersey’s government had declined further financial support on Friday, leading to the immediate suspension of flights while the airline evaluated its options. Previously, Blue Islands had borrowed £8.5 million from the Government of Jersey during the Covid-19 pandemic to sustain its operations, with £7 million still outstanding as of June. Jersey’s Treasury Minister Elaine Millar expressed sadness over the situation but stressed that government subsidies must be limited.
Ports of Jersey expressed their regret and acknowledged Blue Islands as a valued operator for many years. Guernsey Ports’ managing director Ross Coppolo highlighted efforts by Aurigny and Loganair to reduce disruption and confirmed that the priority was supporting affected passengers. Southampton Airport advised travelers not to visit the terminal without confirming arrangements and noted all Blue Islands flights to and from Southampton had been canceled.
Carl Walker, chairman of the Jersey Consumer Council, remarked that difficulties at Blue Islands had been “bubbling under the surface for some time.” He described the airline’s collapse—along with ongoing ferry service problems—as “a diabolical situation” for consumers, especially during a critical period for families and businesses. The Jersey Chamber of Commerce warned that the airline’s suspension would have immediate and considerable effects on the Channel Islands, emphasizing Blue Islands’ role as the sole provider of inter-island air services and a vital link to the UK. The Chamber welcomed Loganair’s rapid intervention to maintain essential air connectivity.
Travel expert Simon Calder called the loss of Blue Islands “terrible news,” noting the difficult conditions UK regional airlines currently face. He mentioned that Loganair likely had advance notice, enabling them to quickly step in with flights connecting Southampton to Jersey and Guernsey starting less than 48 hours after Blue Islands ceased operations
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