Responding to the collapse of Blue Islands

It has been an intense few days at the Jersey Consumer Council. Since the announcement of Blue Islands’ collapse, our phones, inboxes and social channels have been filled with worried travellers trying to work out what happens next.

Holidays booked, family visits planned, long-saved-for trips suddenly in limbo – these are not small inconveniences. For many Islanders, air travel is a lifeline, not a luxury.

Over the weekend and into this week, we’ve been helping people piece together what options they have. And as difficult as the situation is, it has served as a sharp reminder of just how vital reliable air and sea links are to a community like ours. When a carrier disappears overnight, it exposes the fragility of our connectivity and the impact this has on island life.

Among the uncertainty, there are two important pieces of advice I want to highlight.

Firstly, if you paid for Blue Islands flights using a debit card, you may be able to claim the money back from your bank through the chargeback system. But the rule is strict: you must start the process within 120 days of the original purchase date, not the date of travel. For some people, that window will already be closing. If in doubt, speak to your bank today.

Secondly, if there is any silver lining to this situation, it is that the rescuing carrier, Loganair, is a UK-based airline. That means passengers finally fall under UK/EU air passenger rights legislation – something we did not benefit from when Blue Islands operated. In practical terms, this gives Island travellers much stronger protection for delays, cancellations and rerouting, as well as the potential for compensation in certain circumstances.

We will continue supporting Islanders through this uncertain period. Connectivity matters – and moments like this show just how important it is that Jersey has dependable links, fair treatment for consumers, and clear protections when things go wrong.