LOGANAIR is yet to say whether it will be considering direct flights to Paris or other European destinations – stating that its current focus is “connectivity between the Islands and the UK” and establishing its operating base in Jersey.
The Scottish carrier stepped in alongside Aurigny to support air connectivity following the collapse of Blue Islands last month.
It is establishing a permanent operating base in the Island and currently has services to Guernsey, Exeter, Bristol and Southampton, but hasn’t announced any European destinations.
Blue Islands had this year operated direct flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport which, prior to the airline’s collapse, had been due to return in 2026.
Following questions from the JEP on whether Loganair would consider implementing a Paris service, a spokesperson for the Scottish carrier said: “The focus at present is connectivity between the Islands and the UK and establishing the Jersey hub.”
Blue Islands’ Charles de Gaulle flights were recently discussed by the Economic and International Affairs scrutiny panel during a hearing with Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel.
Deputy Morel said that the only financial commitment the airline received from government in relation to the service was “purely underwriting” in case the airline didn’t sell enough tickets, though he noted that Visit Jersey spent £11,000 on marketing the route.
“My understanding of the Paris route is that it was ultimately profitable, because they [Blue Islands] never called on that underwriting,” he told the panel.
Later in the hearing, the minister also criticised “a narrative going round” that the airline had been overextending itself.
“Nobody, to my knowledge, except the board of Blue Islands, is in a position to know whether they were overextending themselves,” he continued.
“If Blue Islands felt that Jersey to Paris was overextending themselves, it would have been right for them to say to Ports of Jersey, we do not want to run the Paris route because we will be overextending ourselves.
“That wasn’t the message that Ports of Jersey got from Blue Islands. And actually, it turned out that I believe the route was at least able to wash its face, if not profitable.”
In June, Blue Islands stated that it had seen “strong demand for our direct connection to one of Europe’s most exciting cities”.
