Blue Islands bookings back online after Flybe failure

The move allows customers to make bookings for all Blue Islands flights on all of its routes.

The airline says that, as a temporary measure, each route will have its own flat fare and include 23kg hold baggage while it gets the system fully adjusted and introduces dynamic pricing and fare options.

While payments systems are being implemented, customers will be able to hold seats using the website and its new call centre partner, Flight Directors, will contact customers to take payment, which will confirm the booking.

Customers making bookings will be contacted from 8am today (Saturday).

Rob Veron, CEO Blue Islands, said: 'We would like to thank our customers for their patience while we reinstated our bookings systems at www.blueislands.com. Customers can now book all flights on our website for flights until 24 October 2020 and we have added the resource of a new call centre ready to serve our customers too. We are working to restore website functionality, including online payment early next week. We will continue to provide updates to our passengers as they become available.'

Passengers with bookings on Blue Islands operated services travelling this weekend and on Monday 9 March can go to the airport with their booking confirmation and check-in as normal.

Blue Islands says it will honour these flights without further payment. Any customers without a booking, wishing to travel this weekend or on Monday are able to book and pay for tickets at the airport of departure.

Mr Veron added: 'Our schedule continues to operate as normal and our dedicated team looks forward to welcoming our customers on board.'

Currently, funds from all future bookings for Blue Islands operated services made via Flybe are held by Flybe’s merchant card acquirers. These controls were put in place to safeguard consumer funds in the event of Flybe’s collapse. This means that the original booking for a Blue Islands operated service made via Flybe is no longer valid and requires rebooking.

As a result, passengers who had made a booking through Flybe for a Blue Islands-operated service for travel from Tuesday [10 March] onwards will be required to make a new booking with Blue Islands prior to travel, or at the airport before departure.

Passengers should refer to the Civil Aviation Authority website for information on refunds, or contact the credit card company that was used for payment.