They are being held because of money the airline owed the States when it collapsed under financial pressure on Friday.
The States Trading Supervisory Board, which oversees the airport, rapidly instructed that two ATR-72 aircraft leased to Blue Islands, the only planes in the company’s fleet which were in Guernsey at the time, should not be allowed to leave the island until the debt has been resolved.
STSB president Mark Helyar provided a statement last night in response to questions submitted by the Guernsey Press.
‘Naturally, I want to do everything possible to ensure Guernsey taxpayers receive the money owed to them,’ said Deputy Helyar.
‘Therefore, on Saturday we took the decision to detain the two Blue Islands aircraft currently at Guernsey Airport.
‘These are aircraft leased by Blue Islands, but under the relevant Guernsey law, which is similar to legislation elsewhere in this regard, such aircraft can be held by authorities in order to assist with recovery of monies owed.
‘We will take all steps within our authority to recover monies owed.’
It is known that Blue Islands owed the States of Guernsey substantially less than it owed the States of Jersey. It was the latter’s withdrawal of financial support which forced the airline to cease operating after its final flight landed in Guernsey at 9pm on Friday.
Sources suggested that the amount owed to Guernsey could run into tens or possibly hundreds of thousands of pounds, compared to at least £7m. in outstanding loans which it was believed to owe Jersey, but the islands have not confirmed the exact figures.
‘Given the commercial nature, it wouldn’t be appropriate at this stage to give all of the detail about the amount Blue Islands owes to the States of Guernsey. However, I can say that the charges are due to operational costs such as landing fees,’ said Deputy Helyar.
Blue Islands’ demise immediately prompted Aurigny and Loganair, the UK’s largest regional airline, to announce plans to take over parts of its route network.
Aurigny has started a daily service between Guernsey and Jersey and added more flights each day between Guernsey and Southampton.
Loganair has started operating between the islands. But it was forced to withdraw tickets for Guernsey-Southampton flights hours after putting them on sale after realising that it could not operate the route without a licence from the States.
Once the Transport Licensing Authority receives an application for a licence, it must publish the details and allow 14 days for representations, and it may arrange a hearing.
The authority must follow a policy which states that ‘a view will be taken as to the extent to which what is proposed will, or will not, be in the best interests of the users of the island’s air transport services and thereby also the best interests of the island’.
Meanwhile, Jersey’s Economic Development minister Kirsten Morel revealed yesterday that the States of Jersey had agreed to pay some of Loganair’s ‘contingency costs’ to take over Blue Islands’ routes, but he would not disclose the sums involved.
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