Blue Islands pulls two routes

Friday 17 January 2020

Blue Islands has shelved its London Southend and Liverpool services, citing unsustainable market conditions.

The last London Southend will be in just 10 days time, on 27 January, while the Liverpool service will not recommence its summer schedule in May.

Blue Islands CEO Rob Veron said any passengers booked on these routes will be contacted and offered either an alternative flight or a refund. 

"Whilst we continually strive to develop incremental network growth from the islands, some new route start-ups do not prove to be financially sustainable," he said. "In those instances, it is vital for the health of the wider business that these routes are suspended.”

“We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience caused by this schedule change and want to reassure them that suitable arrangements will be made. Our customer service team will be in contact with any passengers affected, to offer either an alternative flight or a refund. 

Pictured: Blue Islands announced THE LAUNCH OF THE TWO ROUTES back in January last year. 

Mr Veron said 2019 has been a "notable year" in the history of air transport in Guernsey, mainly for negative reasons. 

"The first full operational year of the Open Skies policy has quickly demonstrated the destabilising impact of that deregulation, its effect on the route mix and most importantly sustainability.

“We look forward to working closely with the States of Guernsey in the forthcoming strategic review of air links.

“Consumers enjoy the good choice of carriers that we have operating to and from Guernsey, but it is essential that key regional services, operating high-frequency year-round services are done so in a viable and sustainable fashion. This needs to be front and centre of all policy considerations.”

Blue Islands recently announced an expanded charter service for the summer, bringing tourists to Guernsey from Holland, Germany and Switzerland. The airline’s established services to Southampton, Jersey, East Midlands and Bristol continue as normal.

Pictured top: Blue Islands CEO Rob Veron.