The collapse of Blue Islands over the weekend have more than an echo of the news that dominated the news 12 months ago – all the evidence that Jersey is seeking enhanced resilience for its transport options, and that it is not particularly, or at all, interested in working with Guernsey (or Aurigny, as an extension of Guernsey) to achieve that.
As always, one feels for the staff, always almost the last to know in such situations. Although rumours about Blue Islands’ finances had been circulating for some while, none had reached the stage of the plug being pulled, and while few in the know expected the airline to last untouched, equally nobody was expecting its imminent demise. Aurigny knew, and was interested in trying to work something out. Clearly the Government of Jersey knew and ultimately, as it proved, the power was in their hands.
And buoyed by the positive interest from Loganair, it held all the cards too.
Once the decision was made, ministers felt they had enhanced resilience at their fingertips.
The lesson Guernsey has taken from the ferry tender fiasco, when overwhelmingly it has emerged from Jersey that they simply didn’t trust Condor to stay afloat and wanted change at all costs, is that Jersey’s ultimate call may not have been so wise as it once appeared.
Will history repeat itself in the air?
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