Blue Islands

G-ISLH, Blue Islands' sole ATR 42, wearing the carrier's updated livery.

The airline was formally established in 2001 (but had been operating since 1999 as a small operation) by Le Cocq's Stores in Alderney and was initially known as Le Cocq's Airlink. It started operations carrying perishable goods from Bournemouth in the south of England to the island of Alderney. Scheduled services were added on the same route on 1 February 2002. The trading name Rockhopper was adopted on 29 August 2003.[5] In 2004, ownership changed to Healthspan Leisure and in 2005, Jetstream aircraft were added to the fleet.[6] The company moved its main operating base from Alderney to Jersey in January 2006. Its headquarters is now at Healthspan House, The Grange, St. Peter Port, Guernsey. The airline is wholly owned by the Healthspan Group.[5] The company changed the trading name from Rockhopper to Blue Islands on 14 February 2006. This move coincided with the delivery of the first of its new fleet of 19-seater BAe Jetstream 31 aircraft and a new air link with the Isle of Man.

The deployment of the BAe Jetstream aircraft on some Guernsey-Jersey services meant Blue Islands gained a majority share of the market from its competitor (according to Airliner World magazine), helped by the introduction of an hourly shuttle service between Guernsey and Jersey known as the Blue Shuttle. In December 2007, Blue Islands' share of the inter-island market was estimated to be over 50%, and in December 2009 its market share had risen to 68%. Blue Islands went on to launch new routes from the Channel Islands to Beauvais–Tillé (ceased July 2008), Southampton, Geneva and Zurich. A Dornier 328-110 (leased from ScotAirways) was added to the fleet in 2007. However, by late 2010 its market share on the Guernsey-Jersey route had fallen to below 50% and its main competitor Aurigny was regaining much ground in the Channel Islands market.[7]

In 2010, the airline added an ATR 42-320 to its fleet.[6] It emerged in July 2010 that Blue Islands had launched a bid with the States of Guernsey to buy its competitor, Aurigny. This caused much controversy in the Channel Islands, and a Facebook page in opposition to the proposed buy-out gained nearly 600 members. Those in favour of the deal claimed that it did not make sense for the two individual airlines to continue to make such large losses whilst operating in competition with each other. The failure of the deal was announced on 14 September 2010, amidst doubts over the security of Guernsey's slots at Gatwick Airport.

A number of changes took place in 2011. Rob Veron was appointed as managing director and the Trislander fleet was repainted and refitted for a planned new hub at Alderney with routes to Southampton and Cherbourg, however the application was denied because the start date was within six months of the application date.[8] Blue Islands announced that a full withdrawal from Alderney would take place on 9 May 2011[9] (coincidentally Liberation Day), after 11 years of services.

In March 2011, it announced a twice-daily weekday route (with a once-daily flight on Sundays) from Jersey to London City Airport,[10] and in April a route to Bristol was announced. Daily services were announced between Jersey and Manchester Airport[11] in September, along with the restoration of a thrice-weekly service to Bournemouth Airport,[12] in competition with the airline's own more regular services to Southampton, as well as those of Flybe. In November the planned retirement of the Trislander fleet was made public, with the last day of operations to be 4 December.[13] This was because they were 'too noisy, old and small'.[14]

ATR 42-320 at Bristol Airport, England in 2016.

On 16 June 2012, a Blue Islands ATR 42-300 registered G-DRFC operating from Guernsey to Jersey suffered a collapse of the left main landing gear while exiting the runway. None of the 43 people on board were injured in the accident.[15][16] Blue Islands applied to the States of Guernsey for a licence to operate a twice-daily Guernsey-Bristol service in competition with Aurigny. A licence hearing was due to take place in January 2013 regarding the application. The application was withdrawn as Blue Islands wishes to concentrate on building the Jersey base.

To further supplement its fleet Blue Islands purchased an ATR 42-320 from Air Atlantique Assistance, entering service on 23 August 2012. Blue Islands announced winter service from Jersey to Chambéry in August 2012, and in October it announced services to Amsterdam and Paris which would start in February 2013.[17] A further ATR 42-320, registered G-ISLH, entered service in July 2013 and in December 2013 an ATR 72-500, registered G-ISLI, was damp leased from Nordic Aviation Capital to provide extra capacity on the Guernsey to Southampton service. The latter aircraft type is now replacing the ATR 42 fleet.

Blue Islands retired one of their ATR 42-320s in July 2016, due to many mechanical issues.[18] An ATR 42-500 was leased in August on a short-term basis from Danish Air Transport until the arrival of the new ATR 72-500. The airline also applied for a licence to operate a service between Guernsey Airport and Cardiff Airport, which will begin Summer 2017, and be operated with an ATR 72.[19] In September 2016, Blue Islands' ATR 42-500 suffered an engine failure at London City Airport.

A new ATR 72-500 arrived in Jersey in October 2016, to replace an ATR 42-320 which was retired. The new aircraft can seat up to 68 passengers and was the second aircraft to be painted in the Flybe livery. Another ATR 42-320 was sold in 2017, and was be replaced by another ATR 72.[20] Another ATR 42 left the fleet in October 2018. The ATR 42 fleet was expected to be phased out, in favour of the ATR 72-500, but it would appear that these plans have been shelved as the sole remaining example has been fully repainted into the carrier's new livery.

In November 2016, one of Blue Islands' ATR 72's was damaged by Storm Angus whilst parked at Guernsey Airport. A piece of airport equipment hit the aircraft, leaving a large dent in its fuselage. An ATR 72-200 was leased from Danish Air Transport as a backup aircraft.[21]

In October 2018, Blue Islands took delivery a fourth ATR 72-500, leaving only a single ATR 42. This aircraft was the first to be delivered during the Flybe franchise without Flybe colours; it sported a modified version of Blue Islands' original livery with small titles, and a white fuselage with blue engines.

In July 2020, the airline announced it would take over a number of former Flybe routes after landing a loan of up to £10million from the Government of Jersey. The airline had been operating “lifeline” flights from Jersey to Southampton and Gatwick during the COVID-19 pandemic. With this announcement the airline relaunched with a new livery and logo to represent the airline "re-emerging, post-pandemic, stronger and better than ever".[22] A codeshare agreement with Loganair was also agreed.[23]

As of September 2020, all 5 of the airline's aircraft had been repainted into the new livery.

Franchise deal with Flybe

In January 2016, Blue Islands revealed their franchise deal with Flybe, which allowed Blue Islands to operate their flights in Flybe branded aircraft. Flybe branded flights began 6 June 2016.[24]

In July 2016, Blue Islands was heavily criticized by the States of Jersey and Guernsey after several aircraft were found to have technical problems, causing high numbers of delays and cancellations. This caused weeks of disruption to Blue Islands' services and meetings with States officials to put measures into place to prevent events like this to occur again.[25] CICRA (the Channel Islands competition watchdog) wrote a letter to the airline, asking them to address the measures and the benefits of the franchise deal with Flybe.[26]

A Flybe ATR 72 operated by franchise partner Stobart Air. Three of Blue Islands' ATR 72-500s wore a similar livery.

In December 2016, CICRA accused Blue Islands of contravening and potentially breaking the Channel Islands' competition laws through the Flybe franchise deal. The watchdog says that the deal "...may have restricted competitive choices, including schedules and which routes the competitors can fly." They say that the airline's response to its letter was not satisfactory and has now started a full investigation into the airline and the franchise.[27]

A common misconception is that Blue Islands operated Flybe flights with their ATRs. This was not the case, and Blue Islands retained their own route network, as well as their crew and ATR fleet.

On 5 March 2020, Flybe was placed into administration. All flights operated by Flybe and Stobart Air (when operating for Flybe. Aer Lingus franchises continued) were cancelled, but those operated on a franchise basis by Blue Islands and Eastern Airways continued.[28] Blue Islands also took over two additional routes previously operated by Flybe.[29]

As of July 2020, Blue Islands operates the following services:[34][35][36]

Blue Islands was meant to continue to serve Newquay Cornwall Airport for the 2nd time from June 2020,[47] however the service has since been cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Blue Islands also cancelled services to London City Airport because of the pandemic.[48] Blue Islands also operated a temporary service to London Gatwick Airport during the pandemic but has since been terminated.

On 16 June 2012 an ATR 42-320 (Registration G-DRFC) operating flight number SI308 crashed on landing at Jersey Airport, suffering a collapse of the left main landing gear. The aircraft's left propeller and surfaces were damaged after striking the ground, subsequently writing the aircraft off. Aside from the 3 crew operating the flight, there were 40 passengers traveling on board.[15] An investigation conducted by the Air Accident Investigation Branch found that the captain was conducting line training for a pilot who had recently joined the company and a 3g acceleration spike was recorded on touchdown, higher than usual. The investigation determined that fatigue sustained in the lifecycle of the landing gear led to a crack which ultimately resulted in complete failure of the left landing gear. Of the 40 passengers on board SI308, there were no injuries.[54][55]

Media related to Blue Islands at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Photos of Rockhopper aircraft