THE Economic Development Minister is to push for new direct air routes between the Island and Europe.
Deputy Kirsten Morel said he believed that links to Paris, Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon and other major cities could be commercially viable, after easyJet confirmed it had received a positive response to its new service from Jersey to Amsterdam.
Tickets for the new route – the airline’s first international service from the Island – went on sale last month.
At the time it was announced, Deputy Morel said the trial route to the Netherlands’ capital could lead to flights to other parts of Europe if it proved successful.
Although the company would not provide specific details on bookings, easyJet said it was pleased with initial demand – and that it would be continually reviewing its network ‘to identify opportunities’.
‘It is really encouraging that sales are strong,’ said Deputy Morel.
‘I will be engaging with Ports to encourage them to further the expansion of our European networks.
‘I think that it will be an incremental [process]. I don’t think that we will see lots of places come online all at once.’
An easyJet spokesperson said: ‘While we don’t currently have plans to operate more routes from Jersey, we continue to be able to serve our customers in the region with routes to London Gatwick, London Luton, Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, as well as summer routes to Edinburgh and Belfast.
‘We continually keep our network under review to identify opportunities to offer more choice for our customers.’
Following a visit to Rennes Airport last year, Deputy Morel said he had spoken to officials from the region who were ‘certainly’ interested in a year-round service to and from the Island.
