The airline has already signed a memorandum of understanding with Flybe, and says that if the agreement to become a third franchise partner goes ahead, the Blue Islands branding will be replaced with Flybe livery from May.
However, the management are keen to stress that the company will remain in local ownership, under chairman Derek Coates, flying its own aircraft and employing its own crew, undertaking all maintenance and controlling handling arrangements, as well as setting its own prices.
The company’s origins date back to 1999, when Le Cocq’s Airlink supplied goods to Alderney from Bournemouth – it was rebranded as Rockhopper in 2003 and as Blue Islands in 2006, since when it has carried more than two million passengers, increasing from 63,500 in the first year to an estimated 380,000 passengers this year.
