Blue Islands (Jersey, UK) has rejected claims made by partner company Aurigny Air Services (Guernsey) that it is “substantially downsizing”.

Aurigny, which provides ground services for Blue Islands at Jersey Airport as part of a cooperation agreement signed by the two carriers last year, has blamed the company for 30 potential redundancies.

Several Blue Islands routes from Jersey Airport have been terminated, prompting the Guernsey national carrier to claim it makes its ground operation there “unviable”.

In a statement to the BBC, Blue Islands said Aurigny had “chosen to abandon Jersey”:

“To suggest a ‘substantial downsize’ is utterly wrong,” the Channel Islands airline said.

“This year Blue Islands will fly in excess of 330,000 passengers, 65% up from 2013.

“Unfortunately, rather than adapting its ground handling operation to ensure it remained viable, Aurigny have chosen to abandon Jersey.”

The two airlines announced a code share deal in 2013 under which Blue Islands aircraft took over the Jersey-Guernsey route while Aurigny provided ground services and sold seats.

Aurigny, which is owned by the States of Guernsey, said the Jersey-Guernsey route agreement between the firms would be unaffected by the closure of its ground operation in Jersey.

Report by Assistant Editor Oliver Wilcock from Manchester.

Copyright Photo: Antony J. Best/AirlinersGallery.com. Britten Norman BN-2A Mk. 3-1 Trislander G-LCOC (msn 366) taxies at Bournemouth.

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