IT is often the first thing the majority of us see when we arrive into Jersey, and the last thing we see when we leave the Island, but it can be easy to overlook – unless there are delays…
But what makes a good Airport? and how can Jersey’s be better?
In the first of a two-part travel series, the JEP spoke with Ports of Jersey chief executive Matt Thomas about the need for investment, new air routes and why the incorporation of Ports matters.
Underinvestment
“For a long period time, there’s not been enough investment” in the Airport, or the Harbour for that matter, Mr Thomas tells the JEP.
“That’s really why Ports of Jersey was incorporated,” he said.
Jersey Airport and Jersey Harbours were incorporated into a single entity – Ports of Jersey, a States-owned organisation – more than 10 years ago.
The intention of this was to “provide essential public services” to the Island in a “sustainable manner” and to avoid a “significant capital shortfall”, according to the government.
Mr Thomas said that the government of the time looked ahead and saw the gap between what needed to be invested and what was being generated.
However, it has been a long time for any significant development to take place at the Island’s ageing Airport.
The pandemic – which grounded flights across the world – “exacerbated” the need for investment, as well as sending “shockwaves through the aviation sector globally” and putting redevelopment plans on hold.
“Plans for redevelopment of the Airport have been a long time coming. I think without the pandemic, it would have been three or four years ago,” he said.
Much-needed investment or a “profit-driven misuse of space”?
The first phase in Ports’ long-term plan to renovate the Airport’s departures and arrivals terminals is the creation of a “premium” paid-for lounge where the upstairs viewing deck – a hidden gem to many Islanders – used to be. The viewing deck has been closed to the public since December for development.
The plans faced instant backlash from the public as soon as they were announced and sparked a petition, signed by more than 600 Islanders, calling the move a “profit-driven misuse of the space”.
The strength of public reaction was enough for Ports to issue a further statement clarifying that it was “at the start of a process” to redevelop the terminal, with plans including a first-floor space with sea and runway views. Ports said it was also hoped that an “open to all” roof terrace could be created, alongside other amenities such as improved children’s play areas and better seating.
The lounge – “all being well” – is due to open next month, according to Mr Thomas, who highlighted a lack of investment in the Airport through the years and the wider development of the terminals when the JEP asked his reaction to the reaction against the lounge.
This “first phase” will be followed by the development of the whole departures lounge, said Mr Thomas, with some “back-of-house” work starting in late summer.
“It’s really a 14-month project, from November of this year,” said the chief executive, who said they had been “working very closely” with a multitude of groups and organisations in Jersey to create an Airport that is both functional and meets a variety of needs.
Mr Thomas said he was “very excited” with how the project was coming together and that he looked forward to sharing some of that output.
“What’s most important to me is how we actually capture the spirit of Jersey throughout it. The aim is: we want the Island to be proud of their Airport”.
‘Setting the tone’
Mr Thomas said Jersey’s Airport and Harbour were “two of the last to go through the kind of change process that you see in many airports in the UK”.
But he stressed they were getting on with things now in the Island.
As someone who has worked in airports around the globe, Mr Thomas said it was “clear” that there was a need for investment in Jersey, highlighting the “wider economic and social impact of growing connectivity”.
“They’re [the Airport and Harbour] the first and last impressions of our Island, for both visitors and Islanders,” said Mr Thomas. “They set the tone.”
The Ports chief executive argued that they were aligned with the government on the need to boost connectivity and invest in infrastructure. Mr Thomas said the government in 2012 recognised that these aims would require a specialist skill set when they incorporated Ports.
La Guardia to L’Avenue de la Commune
Asked whether there were any airports that were an example for Jersey to follow, Mr Thomas responded that it was about a “sense of place” and how this was captured in the building.
“The whole idea is, if you got transported into an airport anywhere in the world, you shouldn’t have to go outside to know where you are,” he said.
Many UK airports were “not great” when it came to capturing a sense of place, he said.
Mr Thomas joined Ports from Shannon Group in Ireland, where he is from, and before that worked in management roles in the UK, Europe and in North America.
He led the $4 billion privatisation of La Guardia Airport in New York, the largest airport public-private partnership in the US, while chief commercial officer of Vantage Group.
Mr Thomas said some of the airports he had had the “privilege” of working at were also the best airports in their geographic regions, including La Guardia and Vancouver International.
“In each case, in a slightly different way, they capture the local feeling, the local spirit,” he said.
Whether Ports plans to keep the Jersey Royals honesty box stand, allowing passengers to pick up potatoes on their way through the terminal, remains to be seen, but it certainly captures the local spirit.
New routes
Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel – who Mr Thomas understandably works closely with – said in January that up to £2 million – via the government’s Better Business Support Package – would be spent over the next two years to support the development of new air routes.
Since then there have been announcements of new French routes.
Blue Islands announced in February it would be launching flights to Paris while a government-funded trial will allow Islanders to fly to Brest – and Alderney – this summer with Breton airline Finistair.
And Jet2 has announced a new twice-weekly service to Bournemouth starting from next summer, while it will also expand existing routes to Newcastle, and Leeds Bradford and East Midlands, in news described as a “welcome investment” in Jersey’s connectivity by Deputy Morel.
However, the Island has also lost European connectivity in recent years.
Blue Islands operated a flight to Rennes in 2022 and 2023 but it did not return last year. An Amsterdam route run by easyJet which was “well-used” by Islanders was later scrapped as it did not attract enough Dutch passengers.
Asked how much was left in the pot for new routes, Mr Thomas said the answer was a “little tricky”, highlighting “commercial sensitivity”.
But he said that it had been used to secure the Paris route and that the Jet2 news would provide “significant growth” in numbers next year and in 2027 which he said was “absolutely fantastic news” for the winter economy.
Mr Thomas said they were speaking to a “whole variety” of new airlines and “would love to see” easyJet expand its Jersey services. The budget carrier previously said that it remained “committed” to expanding its services from the Island.
The Ports chief executive said the way the world of aviation worked was that airlines tended to decide in September or October where they were going to fly the following summer.
He argued that Jersey had “got ahead of the game” by securing the Paris and Jet2 routes.
- Read the JEP on Thursday for part 2, focusing on the harbour
Six months of special attention
Mr Thomas this week welcomed the lifting of the “special attention” designation at Jersey Airport which was put in place following a restructuring of the top team there.
Additional oversight and scrutiny was imposed six months ago by the director of civil aviation – after a number of staff left the organisation and new roles were created – but ended last week.
Mr Thomas said the changes had been made to “drive improvements in travel experience and growth in connectivity”.
