A MAJOR expansion of air links to and from Jersey provides a much-needed, further boost to the Island’s tourism sector and is a “strong vote of confidence” ahead of the summer season, business leaders have said.
After a difficult few years, the industry is showing positive signs after a number of new routes were confirmed, a major hotel development proposed and a rise in both air and ferry passenger bookings.
Last week, Jet2 announced two new routes from Jersey which will begin next summer.
The airline is set to introduce flights to Birmingham and Bristol, as well as expanding its existing Manchester route in a move that will increase the carrier’s capacity to 120,000 seats.
It comes shortly after Dutch airline KLM confirmed direct flights to Amsterdam in 2026, German operator Lufthansa announcing a bolstered service to Munich over the summer and Aer Lingus has restarted its Dublin flights.
Meanwhile, Loganair – which stepped into the local market following the shock collapse of Blue Islands – is set to commence routes to East Midlands, Norwich, Paris and Bordeaux.
Marcus Calvani, Co-chief executive of the Jersey Hospitality Association said: “Increasing capacity and extending the season into late October is fantastic news for Jersey’s hospitality sector. The additional flights and regional routes combined with Jet2’s strong market reach will attract more visitors and encourage travel into the shoulder season.”
Among the figures providing cause for optimism is a 3% rise in air passenger numbers for the first quarter of this year in comparison to the same period in 2025.
And there are now 7% more flights available for the summer season than there were last year.
Improvement are also being seen at the Harbour, with more than 150,000 passengers already booked to travel with DFDS to and from Jersey in 2026.
Chamber of Commerce president Lee Madden said: “Jet2’s significant expansion of activity for its summer 2027 programme is a strong vote of confidence in Jersey as a destination and its appeal within the UK leisure market. Expanding routes and capacity will enable more tourists to discover our island, supporting our members in the visitor economy across multiple sectors.”
Ports of Jersey chief executive Matt Thomas previously welcomed the expansion of the air routes available to and from Jersey as a “great boost for our tourism industry”, while Visit Jersey chief executive Tricia Warwick added that the new services showed a “real vote of confidence in Jersey as a destination”.
Mr Madden has also spoken in favour of plans to turn a disused office building into a hotel, adding that, if approved, the development could turn into an economic boost for the Island.
The application – put forward by MAC Architectural Services on behalf of Vadis Ltd – would see Union House transformed into an 89-bedroom hotel with a restaurant and bar.
Last year, Environment Minister Steve Luce told a Scrutiny panel that he wanted to see the development of new hotels, adding that he was “very conscious” that the number of tourist beds in the Island was not what it used to be. The Island has lost several hotels in recent years, including the Mayfair, Stafford, Revere and Apollo.
