Local airlines plugging the gaps

Friday 06 March 2020

If you were worrying that you wouldn't be able to easily get to Birmingham or Exeter after the collapse of Flybe, you can now relax.

Aurigny has announced it will be starting permanent regular flights to both airports multiple times a week, and Blue Islands has suggested it too will soon be making a similar announcement.

Since Flybe buckled under financial pressure earlier this week, both airlines have stepped up to the plate to help islanders get to where they were trying to go or get home, and ensure they haven't had to worry about their travel plans being ruined. 

But now, both Blue Islands and Aurigny appear to be taking it a step further, planning to utilise the market space that has just opened up in the wake of Flybe's demise. 

Pictured: Blue Islands and Aurigny stepped up to the plate to help people after Flybe collapsed. 

Aurigny has already announced it is going to launch two new permanent direct routes to Birmingham and Exeter. The new services will start on 11 March and 12 March respectively, and will go on sale tomorrow, Saturday 7 March.

Pictured: The details of the new Aurigny routes. 

"We believe that maintaining Guernsey’s connectivity is key and with the collapse of Flybe it is an unmissable opportunity for Aurigny to provide a valuable customer service while at the same time increasing our operation and improving our financial position," Aurigny Chief Executive Mark Darby said. "Given that we are able to do this with no increase in fixed costs and with aircraft, crew and a user-friendly booking system immediately available to us we hope that this will alleviate some travel concerns that islanders may have at this time.”

Pictured: Guernsey Airport has not been hit too hard by Flybe's end, as it only operated a fraction of flights to and from the island. 

Blue Islands is a former franchise partner of Flybe. It is currently in the process of getting its own website, Blueislands.com, back up and running so customers can return to booking flights as usual - you used to book flights through Flybe's website. In the meantime flights have to be booked in person at the airport. 

In a video statement, the airline's CEO Rob Veron has thanked his staff for their hard work over the last few days, as Blue Islands put on a number of extra flights to fill the gaps left by Flybe. Today it is continuing to do this, with more flights planned for Exeter and Birmingham, but in a statement released yesterday, the airline suggested it too could be looking to permanently settle in on these routes.

WATCH: Rob Veron's statement. 

"[From Saturday 7 March] Blue Islands services will continue to operate as normal. Passengers with bookings for travel on Blue Islands operated services are advised to check-in on time at the airport. Further updates for passengers travelling on Saturday 07 March 2020 will follow," the statement said.

"Further announcements relating to commencement of a new Blue Islands scheduled service to Birmingham and Exeter from both Guernsey and Jersey will be announced over the coming days. In the meantime, customers are assured of continued service to both of these destinations."

Blue Islands also said it had been speaking to Flybe's administrators about recovering bookings.

"Blue Islands is seeking engagement with E&Y, the appointed Administrators of Flybe in respect to future bookings. Currently funds relating to bookings for future travel made via flybe.com are withheld by Flybe’s merchant card acquirers, in order to safeguard consumer funds in the event of Flybe’s collapse. Blue Islands is seeking to clarify whether these acquirers will recognise Blue Islands as the carrying party in such transactions. Or whether customers with future bookings on Blue Islands services, made at flybe.com will need to request a refund from their card providers and rebook via blueislands.com."

Pictured: Aurigny has announced permanent routes to Exeter and Birmingham going forwards.

Aurigny said it has held positive discussions with Exeter and Birmingham over the last few days to get new routes up and running.

Matt Roach is Exeter Airport's Managing Director. Exeter is one of a few airports across the UK that is going to be hit hard by Flybe's collapse, as it operated most of the routes the airport had.

Mr Roach said: "The collapse of our long-term partner airline Flybe represented a desperately sad day for us all here at Exeter Airport. We are therefore delighted that Guernsey’s Aurigny Airlines has quickly stepped in to operate flights from Exeter to Guernsey which will ensure continued service to this popular destination for our region and customers.”  

Pictured top: Exeter and Birmingham airports.