Blue Islands cancels upcoming flights as airline ceases trading

Blue Islands has operated its final flights after it failed to get a last-minute lifeline from Jersey's government.

In a statement published at around 10pm on Friday, the airline said: "Blue Islands has suspended operations with immediate effect and is considering its options. All Blue Islands flights have been cancelled. Passengers expecting to fly should not go to the airport unless they have made alternative travel arrangements with another airline.

"After very constructive dialogue with the Government of Jersey in recent months, including what we understood to have been ongoing assessments of the future options, we were informed this afternoon that they are unable to provide further support. 

“This has meant that we now need to suspend flying immediately whilst we consider the options available and how we can help our customers, staff and stakeholders."

Jersey’s Minister for Treasury & Resources, Deputy Elaine Millar said, “I am saddened by the announcement that Blue Islands has suspended operations, and my immediate thoughts are with the people whose jobs have been affected and the passengers whose travel will be disrupted.

”For those passengers based in Jersey, Government support is ready and available.

 “Air connectivity is vital for our Island, and the contingency plans that have been prepared will mean that connections are swiftly reinstated, with priority given to those routes most essential to the provision of medical services.  Ports of Jersey are providing advice to people who have been affected by the flight cancellations.

“Anyone who was due to travel with Blue Islands should not go to the airport and should instead rebook with an alternative airline. They can get more information and support at jerseyairport.com/blueislands. All medical transfer passengers will be supported separately through the Department of Health.

“While Ports of Jersey address the short-term challenges, Government is working with an alternative airline to ensure that Jersey has reliable and sustainable air links for the long term.”

Blue Islands gave this advice to affected passengers:

• For bookings made directly with Blue Islands, please contact your bank or provider of the payment card used to make the booking;
• For bookings made through our codeshare partner Aurigny but travelling on a Blue Islands flight, please contact Aurigny directly – some flights may still be operating;
• For bookings made through a travel agent or holiday company, please contact the company you booked with for advice and guidance.

The Alderney-based airline operated flights between Jersey and Guernsey, and from the islands to Southampton, Exeter, East Midlands, Dublin, Leeds, Norwich and Newcastle.

It also operated routes from Jersey to Bristol and Paris and has offered trips to Mallorca, Verona, Munich for Oktoberfest and Bruges for the Christmas Markets.

The Southampton route is considered a 'lifeline' service because it is used by patients needing hospital treatment in the UK.

Blue Islands was launched in 2006, although its origins date back to 1999 when it formed as Le Cocq's Air Link to supply produce to Alderney from the south coast of England.

It began carrying passengers in 2002, between Alderney and Bournemouth on a Britten Norman Islander.

The airline was renamed Rockhopper in 2003.  A year later, it was taken over by Healthspan Limited under the chairmanship of Guernsey businessman Derek Coates.

The rebrand to Blue Islands in 2006 coincided with the delivery of the airline's first British Aerospace Jetstream 32 aircraft. It carried 63,500 in its first year.

ATRs joined the fleet in 2009, and in 2011, Rob Veron was appointed CEO, announcing plans for an all-ATR fleet. The airline went on to operate five of the aircraft across its route network.

Following the collapse of Flybe in 2020, which Blue Islands had become a franchise partner of in 2016, the airline refreshed its brand with a new website and booking system.

Blue Islands' ATR aircraft in Flybe livery

2025 has been a challenging year for Blue Islands. In May, it axed 28 flights from its summer schedule because of fleet challenges.

A month later, its boss said sorry to passengers for a string of delays and cancellations that had prompted a raft of complaints and led to questions in the States Assembly. The government said it was monitoring performance.

Mr Veron said the arrival of new ATR aircraft would provide the additional capacity needed for a return to a reliable service.

Blue Islands received a government loan of £8.5 million in July 2020, during the Covid pandemic. As of 31 May 2025, only £1.42 million had been repaid.

In September, the public spending watchdog the Comptroller and Auditor General said there was 'no evidence' the government had monitored the airline's performance after issuing the loan.

Lynn Pamment said: “There is no evidence within Government to demonstrate that information about the KPIs has been systematically collated, evaluated and reported on during the period of the loan.”

Earlier this month, Blue Islands announced plans to operate flights between Newquay and Gatwick on behalf of Skybus, after Eastern Airways - which previously operated the route - suffered a similar fate to Blue Islands. The new route was due to begin operating on 23 November 2025.