Heathrow link makes unexpected return

Thursday 18 June 2020

Jersey passengers will fly to Heathrow direct for the first time in more than a decade after BA unexpectedly changed all flights booked to Gatwick in July.

The airline’s website now shows one daily flight from Jersey to Heathrow Terminal 5 between 1 and 15 July, with two flights per day being provided from the 16 July onwards.

The route, however, reverts back to Gatwick from 1 August with three flights from Jersey to the London destination, increasing to four outward-bound flights the following day, and five or more thereafter. 

Customers were informed of the change to their July bookings via email yesterday morning (17 June).

When Express contacted BA about the Heathrow route, a spokesperson replied: “I’m afraid this is a fast moving situation and we are advising customers to check ba.com for the most up to date information on flights.”

Pictured: BA will now be flying to Heathrow in July, rather than Gatwick as planned. (Stuart Bailey/BA)

Ports of Jersey's Chief Commercial Officer Jonathan Crick then added this morning: "On Wednesday 17 June, British Airways decided that some Jersey flights still planned for July 2020, in anticipation of a relaxation of border controls, will operate out of its Heathrow base for operational reasons, as it gradually builds up its operations from the London area.  This is only a temporary measure before the Jersey Gatwick service is resumed and any passengers who may be affected will be contacted directly by the airline.”

It comes amid increasing speculation about what will be left of Jersey’s air links as the island emerges from the covid-19 health crisis.

Minutes from a recent meeting of the Tourism Recovery Task Force - a group of key industry heads aiming to ensure the sector can rise to the challenges of the pandemic - suggested that BA was deciding between Heathrow or Gatwick as its primary route into the island.

easyJet, meanwhile, was reportedly considering linking up to Jersey via three routes: Edinburgh, Bristol and Gatwick.

The latter’s website is currently advertising routes to London Gatwick, London Southend, London Luton, Belfast, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, and Newcastle.

Pictured: easyJet is advertising more than five routes from Jersey to the UK over the summer, but it is not yet clear if they will be able to fly. (Gareth James)

But it’s unclear whether the flights will be allowed to take off, as Ministers have not yet given the green light to normal flight activity resuming.

Mr Crick said this morning that both airlines' commitment to the island has "never been in doubt", adding that they wish to resume flying "as soon as border controls are lifted, and passengers are no longer required to self-isolate for 14-days."

"Flight bookings can be made for all future dates up to the middle of 2021 and any changes that are needed for immediately upcoming dates, due to continued border restrictions, are being made by the airlines as necessary," they said.

Until Ministers give commercial flights the go-ahead, islanders will continue to be restricted to travelling on on two ‘lifeline’ flights to Southampton and Gatwick provided by Blue Islands for medical or compassionate reasons only, with each passenger needing a rubber stamp from Customs officials.

There was a hint from the Health Minister this week that commercial operations could resume by next month, however. 

A report released on Tuesday afternoon showed that he had requested that the island’s Deputy Medical Officer for Health, Dr Ivan Muscat, investigate the potential impact of opening up travel on the spread of covid-19 locally.

Dr Muscat is due to present his findings on 25 June. 

Pictured: Deputy Medical Officer for Health Dr Ivan Muscat, who will present a report on his findings later this month.

A decision can’t come soon enough for tourism and hospitality industry heads, who warn that businesses could go bust while waiting for travel to resume, while airlines’ appetite for flying to Jersey could be stunted. 

Earlier this week, Jersey Hospitality Association Chief Executive Simon Soar made a plea to the government to act quickly in opening up to tourists.

“Even with islanders now able to take ‘staycation’ breaks in Jersey, the industry remains in a dangerous position without the economic boost visitors will bring,” he said, adding that 800,000 people visited last year, spending £280m.

In the interim, the government is looking to shore up its lifeline route provider Blue Islands.

Pictured: JHA Head Simon Soar.

The Treasury Minister announced yesterday that the government was considering lending the flyer as much as £10m to guarantee Jersey’s air links while easyJet and BA remain undecided about their future provision.

That boost would take the form of a convertible loan, meaning the government would be paid back via shares in the business.

“These discussions are continuing towards an advanced stage and details will be provided when arrangements are finalised,” a government spokesperson said.

Pictured top: BA will now be flying to Heathrow in July. (Nick Morrish/BA)