JÈRRIAIS will take centre stage in Jersey Airport’s redeveloped departures hall when it reopens in time for summer 2027.
Footage shared by Ports of Jersey shows walls adorned with phrases in the Island’s traditional language, welcoming passengers with “séyiz les bienv’nus” and wishing them “bouan viage” as they leave.
The signage forms part of the £10 million redevelopment of the departures terminal and aims to showcase Jersey’s distinctive culture to passengers travelling through the airport.
Jean Treleven, from the Société Jersiaise, said: “Jèrriais is just an integral part of Jersey. It’s our heritage. It’s the language we’ve spoken for well over 1,000 years.”
She added that many people were now learning the language, making it important for Jèrriais to be displayed in prominent public places.
“You really want Jérriais to be there in places where people are going to look, where they’re going to see it and they’re going to ask questions,” she said.
Ms Treleven added: “It’s so important, I think, for people visiting to realise that they are visiting this place which outwardly appears to be just British but it’s actually got a much deeper history to it.”
