The boss of the organisation responsible for aviation activity in Jersey has said it is in “advanced conversations” with a number of airlines about establishing new routes.
Ports of Jersey CEO, Matt Thomas made the comment following news of government investment aimed at persuading more carriers to fly into Jersey.
He said he was “very confident” that flights to destinations like Paris and Frankfurt would be available within five years.
Earlier this week ministers confirmed plans to spend £2m over the next two years on the project.
‘We are very, very competitive’
Speaking after the announcement, Mr Thomas said the investment of public funds makes Jersey a “more exciting prospect to some airlines”.
“We are at the table. We are very, very competitive in terms of what it costs to land and turn around your plane in Jersey”, he said.
Matt Thomas is confident more airlines will offer new routes to and from Jersey [BBC]
He also said there were more than 20 airlines that don’t currently fly to Jersey Ports of Jersey is in regular contact with.
He added Jersey needed to prove it could deliver “value for money for tourists and businesses” to make it viable for airlines.
Tricia Warwick plans to market Jersey as a destination in any new routes announced [BBC]
Visit Jersey will also receive a separate grant in order to market Jersey as a holiday destination in any of the places where new routes are secured.
It will receive £4m over the next two years, the majority of which will be spent on “route marketing”.
Tricia Warwick, chief executive of Visit Jersey, said: “It’s all about creating connectivity into Europe, and the main markets that we’re focused on developing are France and Germany.
“You’ve got to have a compelling reason for them to come, and value for money is part of that.”
‘Incentive for airlines to try it’
Making the funding announcement, Deputy Kirsten Morel said: “If Jersey is to succeed in having sustainable air routes over many years they have to deliver that to the airlines and that’s where the better business support package comes in.
“It provides that incentive for the airlines to try it, but if an airline sees that it’s not getting the return it wants it will cut any link.”
Earlier this month, airline Blue Islands announced plans to fly direct to three European destinations, Bilbao, Verona and Munich, later this year.
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