Blue Islands - History

History

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 to Alderney. Scheduled services were added on the same route on 1 February 2002. The Rockhopper name was adopted on 29 August 2003. In 2004 ownership changed to Healthspan Leisure and in 2005, Jetstream aircraft were added to the fleet. 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. The company changed the trading name from Rockhopper to Blue Islands on 14 February 2006. The move coincided with the delivery of the first of its new fleet of 19-seater BAe Jetstream aircraft and a new air link with the Isle of Man.

The deployment of the BAe Jetstream aircraft on inter-island services meant Blue Islands gained a majority share of the market from its competitor (according to Airliner World magazine), helped by the recent introduction of an hourly shuttle service between Guernsey and Jersey known as the Blue Shuttle. At December 2007, Blue Islands' estimated share of the inter-island market was reported to be over 50% and in December 2009 their market share had risen to 68%. Blue Islands went on to launch new routes from the Channel Islands to Paris-Beauvais (ceased July 2008), Southampton, Geneva and Zurich. However, by late 2010 their market share on the inter-island had fallen to below 50% and its main competitor Aurigny was regaining large shares in the Channel Islands market.

Blue Islands have been offering cargo services on all their flights throughout their network for a number of years. They flew in unique Madagascan birds for Durrell Conservation Wildlife Trust from Zurich during June 2009. In 2010 the airline added an ATR 42-320 and a Dornier 328-110 (leased from ScotAirways) to its fleet; the latter was retired shortly afterwards. It emerged in July 2010 that Blue Islands had launched a bid with the States of Guernsey to buy its competitor, Aurigny Air Services. This caused much controversy in the Channel Islands, and a Facebook page in opposition of proposed buy-out gained 530 members. Those in favour of the deal claimed that it was nonsensical for Aurigny and Blue Islands to continue making such huge annual losses. The failure of the deal was announced on 14 September 2010.

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. Blue Islands announced that a full withdrawal from Alderney would take place on 9 May 2011 (coincidentally Liberation Day), after 11 years of services.

In March 2011, it announced a new twice daily weekday route (with a once-daily flight on Sundays) from Jersey to London City Airport, and in April a route to Bristol was announced. Daily services were announced between Jersey and Manchester Airport in September, along with the restoration of a three times weekly service to Bournemouth Airport, 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 on 4 December. This was because they were 'too noisy, old and small' - however, it is not the first time that the Trislanders have been under offer; one aircraft left Blue Islands for Great Barrier Airlines in New Zealand in March 2008, whilst the other two aircraft were under offer from an unnamed Caribbean airline in September 2010.

For the Summer 2012 season the airline will wet lease a Fokker 50 from Denim Air.

On June 16, 2012 an ATR-42-300 registered G-DRFC performing flight SI-308 from Guernsey to Jersey suffered a collapse of the left main landing gear while exiting the runway. None of the 43 people onboard was injured in the accident. The aircraft was temporary replaced by an wet-leased Fokker 50 from Denim Air.

July 2012 apply for the license Guernsey - Bristol, in a bid to run a twice daily service.

In July 2012 Blue Islands purchased an ATR 42-320 from Air Atlantique Assistance, this entered service AS G-ZEBS on the 23rd August 2012

In August 2012 Blue Islands announce winter service to Chambery.

In October 2012 Blue Islands announce services to Amsterdam and Paris from Guernsey via Jersey