Loganair seeks licence for inter-island route

Loganair has applied to operate routes between Guernsey and Jersey and Guernsey to Southampton.

The Scottish airline stepped in to run them as "rescue routes" after the collapse of Blue Islands last month and confirmed it had now applied for licences to operate the routes after talks with the States of Guernsey.

Loganair chief executive Luke Farajallah said the inter-island routes "are not simply convenient, they are lifeline services for families, businesses, healthcare and community groups".

He said there was "ample room" for two operators to service the routes and it would "strengthen long-term resilience, improve affordability and safeguard essential connectivity".

Guernsey's Transport Licensing Authority is carrying out consultations about the licences for the designated essential routes to and from Gatwick, Alderney and Southampton as well as the Jersey essential route which is set to begin on 15 January.

The regional airline said it would not ask the States for financial support to run the service and it had received an "overwhelmingly positive" response to its plans.

States-run airline Aurigny also provided "recovery" services and plans to apply for a licence to run the routes from January.

Blue Islands had borrowed £8.5m from the States of Jersey to help it weather testing times during the Covid-19 pandemic, with £7m still outstanding in June.

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