Blending Business and Regional Aviation - BBGA Association Limited

BLUE ISLANDS IS BACK!

New colours, new product offerings, as it sets out plans for UK regions

Blue Islands, the Channel Islands airline, announced a significant plan to restore key lost routes at Southampton Airport today, flying in an ATR72 in brand new corporate colours. The aircraft touched down at the airport from its Jersey base at noon, as the airline confirmed four initial routes.

Southampton-Jersey – daily rising to double daily – from 31 August

Southampton-Manchester – daily – from 31 August

Southampton-Dublin – four times weekly – from 31 August.

Southampton-Guernsey – double daily from 31 August

Prices start from £34.99 for Guernsey; £39.99 for Jersey; and £49.99 for Manchester and Dublin. All fares now include a generous 23kg hold luggage allowance included in the price. Flights are now on sale at the airline’s new website, www.blueislands.com and all customers are invited to sign up to the airline’s new Blue Skies Club frequent flyer programme.

This is a significant expansion for the 15-year old regional airline, which has connected the Channel Islands with Southampton since 2007 and operated between the Islands and Southampton in Flybe colours, as a franchisee since 2016.

Its goal is to replace lost capacity on core business routes in the South and South West such as Southampton and Exeter to Manchester, and to connect people from Jersey and Guernsey. Blue Islands will also be working with partners to offer connections for passengers travelling northbound beyond Manchester.

It is initially basing one 70-seat ATR72 at Southampton, creating 20 direct jobs, including pilots, cabin crew and maintenance staff. A further 20 more indirect jobs will be generated, including in ground handling and other associated activities.

“When the market improves, Blue Islands plans to add a second aircraft at Southampton, covering an increased selection of routes and frequencies.” said Blue Islands Executive Director Paul Simmons, speaking in Southampton.

“Blue Islands is committed to simplifying regional air travel – with no hidden costs or stresses over bag restrictions,” said CEO Rob Veron. “In addition, we know that our passengers require strong wellbeing measures before flying and we are pleased to have introduced a very robust set of measures to meet this very important need. More details of our Enhanced Wellbeing Onboard can be found on our website. In addition, we are proud to announce our new product offering, refreshed brand identity and new website. Our offering is tailored to the needs of regional passengers. Our aim is to make flying a pleasure again. It’s the little things that matter and make the welcome difference.”

More services from Jersey

Blue Islands is also adding more flights from the UK regions to Jersey – ideal for a short break and providing convenient services for VFR traffic. These include:

Bristol to Jersey – four times weekly, flying Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday from 3 August, moving to daily from September.

Exeter to Jersey – three times weekly (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday initially) from 3 September

Birmingham to Jersey – operating Monday/Wednesday/Friday and Sunday from 31 August.

East Midlands to Jersey operating three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) from 29 September.

As well as its scheduled services, Blue Islands operates extensive charter programmes for European tour operators, bringing visitors to the islands from across Europe including Zurich, Rotterdam, Groningen and 20 regional airports throughout Germany.

PR and marketing appointments

Blue Islands is pleased to engage the support of Surrey-based specialist aviation comms agency Emerald Media as media conduit and PR representative on the mainland. “The Emerald team has a strong understanding of the regional airline sector and extensive trade contacts. They are well located for our southern UK focus too,” said Rob.

Emerald complements marketing and design specialist, Jersey-based Freedom Media, headed by Creative Director Hannah Shellswell.

Editor’s note

Blue Islands, founded in 1999 originally as Le Cocq’s Airlink and then Rockhopper in 2003, took its existing name in 2006. It has a team of 130, based in Guernsey and Jersey. Flights operated under the Flybe brand since June 2016 until that airline entered administration in 5 March this year. Blue Islands swiftly re-established itself as an independent carrier, continuing to operate without interruption, Whilst the islands have been in lock down, Blue Islands has provided lifeline services for Jersey, operating essential flights to both Southampton and Gatwick – repatriating to and from the island, transporting key essential workers and ensuring those requiring off-island medical care get there safely.

See video of Rob Veron and photo link here: bit.ly/blueislandsmedia

Details of Exeter and Southampton ‘On Sale’ Flights

Service	Commences	Frequency	From
SOU-MAN	31st August	Daily 7 days	£49.99
SOU-DUB	31st August	1/3/5/7	£49.99
SOU-JER	Ongoing	Initial Daily from 20th July (GoJ prior) September Double daily Sep (still single on day 6) October Double daily 7 days	£39.99
SOU-GCI	31st August	Twice a day Mon – Fri 1 Sat & Sun	£34.99

Service	Commences	Frequency	From
EXT-MAN	31st August	Daily 7 Days	£49.99
EXT-JER	01st September	Initially days 2/4/6	£39.99

For more information

Alison Chambers/Liz Danner, Emerald Media

E: alison.chambers@emeraldmedia.co.uk

T: +44 (0) 1420 560094.

Mob: +44 (0) 7721 882939

Paul Cremer

My name is Paul Cremer, and this marks my 42nd year working within the business and general aviation industry. Over this time, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a diverse array of sector activities, ranging from aircraft charter and management to air ambulance services, ground operations, air traffic control, airport management, technology implementation, and the outsourcing services I currently manage.

In my role focused on delivering advisory, technology, and outsourcing services to aviation customers, I handle a wide spectrum of responsibilities. This includes overseeing International Trip Support, Operations Control Centre Services (OCC), Continuing Airworthiness Management Service (CAMO), Airworthiness Reviews, ARC Services, Aircraft Delivery and Re-delivery Support Services, Maintenance Coordination Services including AOG, Tech Ops (Maintenance Control Centre), and managing myairops software products. As the Head of Aviation Delivery, I lead the customer-facing delivery of Technology & Outsourcing products and services for the market, drawing upon a wealth of knowledge, expertise, and industry connections within Gama Aviation’s Technology and Outsourcing Strategic Business Unit.

My journey into Business and General Aviation began during my teenage years while still in school. I was fortunate enough to be welcomed into the industry, starting at a flying club, and later working at the Air Traffic Services Unit at Blackbushe Airport. There, I maintained the ATC Movement Logs in the Control Tower during weekends, solidifying my passion for aviation. Upon completing my schooling, I seized opportunities at Fairoaks Airport, where I began as Ground Crew while pursuing my Aerodrome Flight Information Service Officer’s license. Advancements in my career led me to the role of Air Traffic Services Manager.

Since joining Gama Aviation in 1996, I’ve held various positions, including Operations Manager (Post Holder), Operations & Commercial Manager, Commercial Manager, Operations Delivery Manager, Head of Business Aviation Delivery, and currently, Head of Aviation Delivery. This role encompasses Gama Aviation Group’s Gama Aviation, myairops, and FlyerTech companies.

In 2023, I was honoured to be invited to serve as the Chair of the Operations Working Group for the British Business & General Aviation Association. This opportunity allows me to contribute to industry initiatives within BBGA’s membership of nearly 200 industry companies, focusing on challenges such as regulatory compliance, Air Services Agreements, technological advancements, workforce development, operational matters, and sustainability.

Marc Bailey

Marc Bailey has spent his entire career in aviation and has worked in most areas of Aviation Services with scheduled airlines, MRO’s, military contract support and latterly with associations, government, and its agencies.

Marc represents your position in Europe (even post Brexit) – as President of ECOGAS (European Council of General Aviation Support) which maintains a voice with EASA. All the major member states are represented on the ECOGAS board. With EASA restructuring its meetings with industry, ECOGAS is now well positioned to represent our position in all areas following industry partnerships with the European Independent Maintenance Group and with ARPAS the new drone and autonomous association.

Marc is chair of the UKASF (United Kingdom Airworthiness Strategic Forum) as part of an initiative to develop Aviation Services across all aviation activities. The UKASF pulls together airlines, MROs, Rotary, Drones, and commercial GA bodies to work with CAA and DfT. The objective is for industry to take the lead to drive strategic issues to benefit all parties. We are well positioned after four years to continue our good work and with the re-established role of Chief Surveyor in the CAA we have a good focal point to do this.

Marc chairs the CAA Finance and Services Forum which allows industry in the UK to discuss in the financial plans for the CAA and the value for money delivered by those funds paid by industry. This is a new and valuable new platform for all parties.

Under recent developments Marc has formed an alliance with, ARPAS, AOPA, BHA and BBGA so that we can strengthen our voice under a joint ‘GA 4 Biz’ banner. This alliance is working to do everything possible to represent the industry’s business interests with UK government and to help realise the Government’s desire to make UK General Aviation a Global Leader in a post Brexit environment. GA4Biz – GA4Biz

The next Generation initiatives with industry and government have continued to develop with the retention platform now evolving into the “Aviation Skills Recruitment Platform”. The platform now not only offers a vehicle for those offering and seeking posts in aviation, it also provides pathways with its TalentView portion seeking to provide pathways for new entrants into our sector. The recruitment platform is being further developed to include training opportunities across a wide range of providers, from government agencies through academic bodies. Getting our next generation activities right in the UK over the next couple of years is our single most important issue which we in aviation must grab with both hands. Marc is playing a central role to help develop many of these channels.

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