British regional carrier Blue Islands has suspended operations with immediate effect, canceling all flights just days after another UK regional airline, Eastern Airways, entered administration.
Based on Jersey in the Channel Islands, Blue Islands has an in-service fleet of three ATR 72-500s and a single ATR 72-600, according to the Aviation Week Fleet Discovery database.
“After 26 years of serving the Channel Islands, we deeply regret that Blue Islands has this evening suspended its operations,” a spokesperson for the airline said late Nov. 14.
“After very constructive dialogue with Government of Jersey in recent months, including what we understood to have been ongoing assessments of the future options, we were informed that they are unable to provide further support,” the official said. As a result, Blue Islands suspended flying with immediate effect.
Blue Islands is advising passengers not to go to the airport unless they have arranged alternative travel.
According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, Blue Islands operated six scheduled routes during the week of Nov. 10. It linked Jersey to Guernsey, another Channel island, but otherwise served the British mainland, flying to Bristol, East Midlands, Exeter and Southampton, as well as offering a Guernsey-Southampton service. The carrier operated 136 weekly flights and approximately 9,200 seats.
Guernsey-based regional Aurigny has moved to fill gaps on some routes. The airline has added services between Guernsey and Southampton, and Guernsey and Jersey, coordinating with Guernsey Ports to enable an interim schedule. “Our mission is always to get the people of the Channel Islands home no matter what,” Aurigny said in its statement announcing measures.
The Government of Jersey, working with Ports of Jersey, has also activated its contingency plan, confirming that Scottish airline Loganair will begin operating replacement services starting from Nov. 16. The regional carrier will offer “rescue fares” on routes between Jersey and Bristol, Exeter, Guernsey and Southampton, and between Guernsey and Southampton.
Authorities added there is sufficient spare capacity on British Airways and easyJet flights from London Heathrow and London Gatwick between Nov. 14 and 16 to repatriate all Blue Islands passengers stranded in the UK.
The grounding of Blue Islands follows the failure of Eastern Airways, which entered administration earlier this month. Administrators Jamie Miller and Gareth Harris of RSM UK confirmed the termination of all flying and the redundancy of most of the carrier’s 330 staff.
Prior to the administration, OAG data for the week of Oct. 20 showed Eastern operating 68 flights and 3,348 seats across six UK regional routes. Some capacity is beginning to return, with Skybus slated to launch ATR 72 flights on the Public Service Obligation route between London Gatwick and Newquay on Nov. 23.
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