Blue Islands

[Finger66]

Cruise pax do want to take quite of luggage so I was more concerned about volume rather than weight - that's without knowing the ATR hold capacity. Don't get me wrong, this announcement is nothing but positive and I have no doubt it will be a success. The post on the DFF tends to support this

 

[White Heather]

Cruise pax do want to take quite of luggage so I was more concerned about volume rather than weight - that's without knowing the ATR hold capacity. Don't get me wrong, this announcement is nothing but positive and I have no doubt it will be a success. The post on the DFF tends to support this

I would guess though that many flights will also have a fair number of passengers travelling on business and therefore with very little baggage. I can't see a full aircraft with 70 pax all going on a cruise - although if it happens that's good.

 

[lbaspotter]

Nice to see Jonathan Hinkles was involved in securing Blue Islands to re-connect Leeds to Southampton & the Channel Islands as his just posted a really good informative post on his LinkedIn account.

Blue Islands to re-launch Leeds Bradford to Southampton flights | Jonathan Hinkles posted on the topic | LinkedIn

Connectivity between regions of the UK forms the backbone of our nations’ transport infrastructure. And when it comes to UK regional air travel, it’s been an especially tough time of late, with a dwindling number of routes and markedly higher ticket prices on those that remain. Against that...

www.linkedin.com

 

[Finger66]

Nice to see Jonathan Hinkles was involved in securing Blue Islands to re-connect Leeds to Southampton & the Channel Islands as his just posted a really good informative post on his LinkedIn account.

Wonder if this will be the. last UK regional connectivity route he will have a hand in, or whether there will be more t come? Possibly some hints of more based on the wording of that Linkedin article. Very pleasing to see the Linkedin responses too which should help make the route a glorious success

 

[lbaspotter]

Blue Islands new 12x weekly scheduled service from Leeds/Bradford to Southampton and Jersey. All flights operated by ATR72 aircraft

Timetable as follows.

Mondays
SI1112 = SOU 07:20 – LBA 08:25
SI3365 = LBA 08:55 – SOU 10:05 / SOU 10:45 – JER 11:35
SI3370 = JER 15:00 – SOU 15:50 / SOU 16:30 – LBA 17:35
SI3391 = LBA 18:05 – SOU 19:15 / SOU 19:45 – JER 20:35
Tuesdays
SI1112 = SOU 07:20 – LBA 08:25
SI3365 = LBA 08:55 – SOU 10:05 / SOU 10:45 – JER 11:35
SI3370 = JER 15:00 – SOU 15:50 / SOU 16:30 – LBA 17:35
SI3391 = LBA 18:05 – SOU 19:15 / SOU 19:45 – JER 20:35
Wednesday
SI1112 = SOU 07:20 – LBA 08:25
SI3365 = LBA 08:55 – SOU 10:05 / SOU 10:45 – JER 11:35
SI3370 = JER 15:00 – SOU 15:50 / SOU 16:30 – LBA 17:35
SI3391 = LBA 18:05 – SOU 19:15 / SOU 19:45 – JER 20:35
Thursdays
SI1112 = SOU 07:20 – LBA 08:25
SI3365 = LBA 08:55 – SOU 10:05 / SOU 10:45 – JER 11:35
SI3370 = JER 15:00 – SOU 15:50 / SOU 16:30 – LBA 17:35
SI3391 = LBA 18:05 – SOU 19:15 / SOU 19:45 – JER 20:35
Fridays
SI3352 = JER 08:35 – SOU 09:25 / SOU 10:05 – LBA 11:10
SI3373 = LBA 11:40 – SOU 12:50 / SOU 13:20 – JER 14:10
SI3370 = JER 15:00 – SOU 15:50 / SOU 16:30 – LBA 17:35
SI3391 = LBA 18:05 – SOU 19:15 / SOU 19:45 – JER 20:35
Saturdays
SI3352 = JER 08:35 – SOU 09:25 / SOU 10:05 – LBA 11:10
SI3373 = LBA 11:40 – SOU 12:50 / SOU 13:20 – JER 14:10
Sundays
SI3370 = JER 15:00 – SOU 15:50 / SOU 16:30 – LBA 17:35
SI3391 = LBA 18:05 – SOU 19:15 / SOU 19:45 – JER 20:35

 

[dmrodgers]

I don't want this as though this is a downer on Blue Islands before the service gets started as I'm a big believer in competition on any route and its good to see a new airline giving LBA a go, I wish them success. I'm a little worried over the Jersey link, with Jet2 offering a three weekly direct service next summer passengers are reluctant to change flight en-route especially if the connection times are long, however the times in Southampton do not seem unreasonable. Price could be a big factor here, price them to make the flights attractive and Blue Islands could be on to a winner. However having just recently returned from holiday in Jersey using Jet2 from LBA on the local Jersey facebook pages Flying Islands do not get great press. Flights cancelled at little notice, probably due to the type of aircraft used if the weather is not good and many instances of delays, again probably weather related. The BA, eastJet and Jet2 services all come out well probably because of the use of Airbus A319/A320 and 737 aircraft. I just hope this works for them and reliability doesn't can the route although Southampton does offer a better chance of success for all the reasons given.

 

[HX3]

If it’s anything like the old Flybe service, most people will get off in Southampton. I see this as complimentary to, rather than completion to JET2 Jersey service.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

If it’s anything like the old Flybe service, most people will get off in Southampton. I see this as complimentary to, rather than completion to JET2 Jersey service.

Its only an hour or so direct from Leeds, so unsure why anyone would want the inconvenience of indirect unless its extremely cheap.

 

[Finger66]

Or they want/need to travel on a day or at a time LS don't fly. After all we only have 3 direct flights a week with LS. I know times have changed but in the days of Dan Air and Capital there were multiple fights on Sat and Sun. Agree with HX3 it complements the LS service and may actually just help the market grow

 

[752]

I don't want this as though this is a downer on Blue Islands before the service gets started as I'm a big believer in competition on any route and its good to see a new airline giving LBA a go, I wish them success. I'm a little worried over the Jersey link, with Jet2 offering a three weekly direct service next summer passengers are reluctant to change flight en-route especially if the connection times are long, however the times in Southampton do not seem unreasonable. Price could be a big factor here, price them to make the flights attractive and Blue Islands could be on to a winner. However having just recently returned from holiday in Jersey using Jet2 from LBA on the local Jersey facebook pages Flying Islands do not get great press. Flights cancelled at little notice, probably due to the type of aircraft used if the weather is not good and many instances of delays, again probably weather related. The BA, eastJet and Jet2 services all come out well probably because of the use of Airbus A319/A320 and 737 aircraft. I just hope this works for them and reliability doesn't can the route although Southampton does offer a better chance of success for all the reasons given.

I mean no doubt the SOU - JER will be sold separately also to help load factor and itself is a popular route pairing, they offer JER & GCI daily through a connection when you can currently only do direct through Jet2 to JER x3 weekly from May and GCI x2 weekly end of May. So offers more choice / flex

 

[Starflyer]

There are 365 days in a year. The Jet2 service - and there's nothing wrong with it at all - flies on 66 of them based on their Summer 2026 schedule. Taking out Christmas and New Year, the new service will offer a new option for around 295 days of the year when there is today no option to fly from LBA to JER. One presumes Jet2 can't viably run 737s on those days otherwise they would. On that basis, the new service is delivering something that they can't and therefore more choice for passengers on those 295 days who currently have to fly from Manchester, Liverpool, EMA or elsewhere.

More people through LBA's doors can surely only be good news.

Reliability-wise, the CAA stats are pretty clear on that front. The least punctual route at Jersey for two years running is easyJet's Edinburgh service - which is run by an A320!

 

[gulftraveller]

The primary difference will be that the Jet2 services are aimed at the inclusive tour market, not seat only. Buying seat only on these services will often be more expensive. Blue Islands will be offering seat only which is a disadvantage v.v. Jet2 on the Jersey route, but it gives them the chance to undercut Jet2 pricing.

 

[mullion]

ZB757 The MAN route goes 3 daily next summer but still a long way behind what it was in days of Flybe

 

[mullion]

Yes I used to work for one of the UK biggest Channel Islands tour operators back in its prime, those days are long gone and it was fun all the bookings done manually

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Not serious competition, but I see Teesside have announced weekly flights to Guernsey next Summer. Think its Aurigny.

 

[Finger66]

Believe it's quite a short season too is the MME program. The improved frequency and connections from LBA will be a winner so agree not serious competition.
I was at MME four weeks ago and one major advantage they have over LBA is a proper viewing area courtesy of the upstairs bar. If LBA sorted proper viewing then that may just increase support for the airport. EMA and MAN two other airports who cater very well for viewing

 

[Snackbar]

Not serious competition, but I see Teesside have announced weekly flights to Guernsey next Summer. Think its Aurigny.

It’s a charter flight and as such you can’t book direct with the airline and have to book via one of two travel agents…..

 

[SierraHotel]

Popular and Affordable Carrier Jet2 Named Most Reliable Airline In Britain For 2025 https://share.google/LX1hUIsTQ6eAzTbc4


Good to see Jet2, easyJet and Blue Islands in the top 5.

 

[Finger66]

Hope this is just someone posting mischief on the DFF but someone has recently posted that their local breaking news suggests Blue Islands are on the verge of collapse. I really hope that is untrue as the new LBA-SOU route is one of the better recent announcements so hope we don't lose it before it starts. Wasn't bmiregional and MUC the last time that scenario happened

 

[Danny]

Hope this is just someone posting mischief on the DFF but someone has recently posted that their local breaking news suggests Blue Islands are on the verge of collapse. I really hope that is untrue as the new LBA-SOU route is one of the better recent announcements so hope we don't lose it before it starts. Wasn't bmiregional and MUC the last time that scenario happened

https://www.itv.com/news/channel/2025-11-14/airline-blue-islands-on-brink-of-collapse-itv-news-understands