Direct flights to Heathrow carrying on through winter

Tuesday 03 September 2019

Flybe is going to continue to run its route between Guernsey and Heathrow during the winter, it has been announced.

Seats are going to be available to fly directly to London's largest airport between the 27 October this year, and the 28 March 2020, and will be ready to be booked from Thursday.

The route was initially started earlier this year as part of a States-subsidised trial - Economic Development put up just over £800,000 to help get it off the ground - but it was expected to end after seven months. 

For now, that subsidy will continue. 

The route is the first direct link to Heathrow Guernsey has had in some years. 

Roy Kinnear, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “We’ve been closely monitoring this new route since it was introduced to our 2019 Summer programme. We would like to thank all stakeholders and customers for their continued support of this daily service between Guernsey and Heathrow airport and current demand indicates it has been well received.

"It provides a convenient connection to and from the UKs largest hub airport, with its many onward connections and extensive choice of travel to other UK destinations. Flybe is therefore pleased to confirm that the route will operate through to its very first winter.”

According to the States, the route has so far seen 13,000 passengers fly to Heathrow before the end of July - a 5% increase in passengers going to London. The States subsidy for the first seven months was a flat investment of £678,000 in the route, and also a £147,000 discount to land in the island. 

Pictured: Deputy Charles Parkinson. 

Regarding that subsidy, a spokesperson for Economic Development said while the Heathrow route would continue to be supported over the coming season, it was the goal to have it become self sustaining in the long term. 

Deputy Charles Parkinson, President of the Committee, said they were delighted to receive confirmation the route would be continuing. 

"We are delighted that Flybe has confirmed the continuation of this important and successful daily service, one of seven new air routes launched since our ‘Open Skies’ policy went live in September of 2018. It demonstrates the Committee’s commitment to delivering against its top air connectivity strategic objectives and we would again like to thank Flybe for its commitment to Guernsey, and to developing Guernsey’s strategic air links.

"The Committee is committed to developing key markets and to ensuring ongoing connectivity to the UK’s leading hub airport, working with an airline that is fully able to exploit the onward international connectivity the airport offers." 

Pictured top: Flybe run the route with a subsidy from the States of Guernsey.