Blue Islands Passengers Demand Compensation After Travel Disruptions

Calls Grow for Compensation After Blue Islands Flight Disruptions

Pressure is mounting on Jersey’s government to secure compensation for passengers affected by recent delays and cancellations on Blue Islands flights.

Deputy Inna Gardiner has urged ministers to take action, following reports that travel disruptions have caused some islanders to miss vital appointments in Southampton, including medical care. The delays stem from the airline removing 28 flights from its summer schedule after one aircraft was damaged and the delivery of another was delayed.

Gardiner called on the Minister for Sustainable Economic Development and the Jersey Consumer Council to work together to protect passengers. “Islanders cannot continue to bear the costs of cancellations and delays,” she told the BBC. “There needs to be a system—whether through insurance, the airline itself, or a dedicated compensation scheme—that ensures people are reimbursed.”

While acknowledging the airline’s poor recent performance, Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel cautioned against rushing to implement a compensation scheme. He warned that such measures could threaten the financial viability of certain flight routes.

“If you force airlines into compensation arrangements, the increased costs could lead them to abandon less profitable routes,” he said. “This is not something we’re prepared to consider in the current government term.”

During a recent States Assembly session, Morel instead encouraged islanders to ensure they have adequate travel insurance. But Deputy Louise Doublet raised concerns that insurers are often unwilling to pay out, wrongly assuming Jersey residents are covered under EU flight compensation laws.

The Jersey Consumer Council highlighted a key gap in protections: while UK and EU laws allow for compensation of over £200 in cases of disruption, no equivalent legal safeguard exists for Channel Islands passengers.

Deputy Morel advised affected travelers to escalate their complaints to the Channel Islands Financial Ombudsman.