Although rivals Flybe have officially objected to the granting of the permit, Assistant Economic Development Minister Alan Maclean said the advice from the Crown Officers was that the permit can be granted and then any appeal heard. Flybe has complained to both the UK Office of Fair Trading and the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority that a subsidy deal struck between Economic Development and the airline is unfair competition. When the new Bmi service starts, it will link the Island back to Heathrow for the first time since 2001 when British Airways pulled out of the route. Deputy Maclean said that Jersey would be the only offshore jurisdiction with direct access to Heathrow and said this would give the Island a competitive advantage over others competing for financial business.
