Blue Islands cancels winter flights between Jersey and Birmingham until next year

Blue Islands have informed customers who had already booked flights via email that they were instead cancelled. Credit: ITV Channel

Blue Islands has cancelled its winter flights to and from Jersey and Birmingham.

The service between Jersey and Birmingham will stop on 2 November 2024 and will not resume until March 2025.

The airline emailed customers who had already booked flights to say the route was "not viable for this season."

This means that two easyJet weekly flights are the only direct flights available between Jersey and Birmingham for the rest of the year.

In a statement, Blue Islands says their route and the easyJet route "cannot viably co-exist".

Customers who had flights cancelled shared their frustrations online, with one post explaining: "Blue Islands cancelled my flight and we are off to Cheltenham for the races and [they] said there isn't the uptake so cancelled until March.

"They offered me a flight to East Midlands, which is over 3 hours away. Not great - I have ended up with Bristol but the times are making me nervous."

A commenter replied: "Blue Islands cancelled my friend's flight to Birmingham on 30 December.

"I have been on their website and it looks like there are no flights to Birmingham in December - what are they playing at? I bet that's ruined lots of people's plans."

Another comment adds: "It is shocking. We all need this route."

Blue Islands has apologised to passengers for the inconvenience caused by cancellations. Credit: PA Images

What happens to passengers who already booked Jersey-Birmingham tickets?

Blue Islands has emailed passengers whose flights were cancelled with two options.

The airline says passengers can move tickets to their Jersey-East Midlands service free of charge.

If no action is taken by Friday 18 October, the airline will automatically cancel the Birmingham booking and issue a full refund within 14 days.

Blue Islands adds: "We proudly provide year-round connectivity for Jersey with multiple daily flights between the island and airports throughout the UK, and are committed to maintaining these crucial links."

What is Blue Islands' response?

A Blue Islands spokesperson says: "The arrival of competing easyJet services – even with only two flights each week – from Summer 2024 has comprehensively undermined Blue Islands’ ability to serve the route profitably.

"easyJet is able to fly between Birmingham and Jersey using aircraft slots left vacant between its core routes on which it earns its keep.

"In contrast, Blue Islands has to recover the full cost of its aircraft and crews employed on the Birmingham route, yet can no longer do so. The two business models cannot viably co-exist, as has been proven elsewhere in the UK market in recent months.

"It is regrettable that travellers this winter between Birmingham and Jersey will now be left with a choice of only two easyJet flights a week, instead of Blue Islands flights every day.

"Blue Islands will continue to serve the Midlands through its Jersey-East Midlands services, which will operate on a year-round basis. We hope that we may be able to welcome some of our Birmingham customers who need regular flights aboard our East Midlands flights.

"Blue Islands Birmingham-Jersey services will resume in March 2025 for the summer season. Should competitive changes lead to an opportunity in future to fly to Birmingham on a year-round basis, Blue Islands will happily review the situation at that time."

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