Blue Islands

[lbaspotter]

Channel Islands based airline is to take over operating the ex flybe operated Manchester to Exeter route using ATR72 aircraft. It is mention that the airline will operate multiple daily flights between the 2 destinations.

Another former Flybe flight from Exeter is saved by new airline

Flights will start in mid-April

www.devonlive.com

 

[Scottie Dog]

Reported elsewhere that the route will be twice daily once it starts.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Southampton/Manchester starts 31st August

https://twitter.com/x/status/1280739375937130496

 

[Scottie Dog]

From AirlineRoute:

Manchester – Exeter eff 31AUG20 1 daily
SI1159 MAN0920 – 1040EXT AT7 x7
SI1179 MAN1420 – 1540EXT AT7 7

SI1160 EXT1130 – 1250MAN AT7 x67
SI1160 EXT1150 – 1310MAN AT7 6
SI1180 EXT1640 – 1800MAN AT7 7

 

[Seasider]

Is that a MAN based aircraft or a "W-leg" from Southampton?

 

[Jerry]

Is that a MAN based aircraft or a "W-leg" from Southampton?

Southampton

 

[EGCC_MAN]

BlueIslands is lopping frequencies off the MAN-EXT route. I've just had October flights cancelled.

May move back towards their originally-planned frequency post-COVID-19?

 

[Jerry]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1293184627784314888

https://twitter.com/x/status/1293183630093647882

 

[Jerry]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1295813469346959360

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I know that Blue Islands obtained a £10 million loan from the Jersey Government but isn't this significant expansion in unprecedented aviation times something of a huge gamble? If 2021 becomes a struggle for the industry the airline could find itself with a problem or two.

I suppose that Eastern and Loganair are also hoping fervently that the domestic aviation sector makes a strong recovery next year

 

[EGCC_MAN]

As long as we're not locked down in house-arrest mode again, those domestic destinations are amongst the very few places where we can travel without needing to worry about the complications of crossing a border or travel insurance limitations. That's why I've booked Blue Islands for a stay in exotic Torquay! The South Coast resorts reached via Southampton would work too. Foreign travel will just have to wait. Even entering Eire is subject to mandatory 14-day isolation. And they're tightening their rules again.

Blue Islands has adjusted EXT-MAN to 3x weekly initially. Hopefully enough business to sustain that? Perhaps a similar cautious start will transpire for SOU-MAN.

We could really do with at least the Isle of Man and Channel Islands opening up if nothing more ambitious at this point. Destinations which you can book without crippling restrictions or high risk of disruption are few and far between right now.

 

[Scottie Dog]

airlineroute dated 9th September states:

Blue Islands at the launch of winter 2020/21 season plans to commence codeshare partnership with Loganair, covering the latter’s selected service from Manchester and Southampton. From 26OCT20, planned codeshare routes include the following.

Blue Islands operated by Loganair
Manchester – Aberdeen
Manchester – Inverness

 

[A400]

Looks like the Exeter route looks to be scrapped.

 

[Silvercity]

Looks like the Exeter route looks to be scrapped.

I used to use this route sometimes with Flybe. It was handy at times because its quite a slow haul by rail. Rail is still not better to the southwest as far as I know.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Booked it twice, got cancelled twice. Probably won't get to use it now. Probably not the only covid-era launch to fail.