BA Abandons Heathrow Jersey Link

Jason Gorringe, Tax-news.com, London

08 May 2000

British Airways have stunned the Jersey community by announcing that they will discontinue operations on the Heathrow route to the island later this year. The airline says it has lost more than £10m on the route over the last three years, flying on average at only 70% of capacity.

BA is intending to expand its Gatwick service to Jersey when the Heathrow route is axed at the beginning of November. There will be a daily all-jet service, better lounge facilities and complimentary limousine service for premium and business class passengers needing to travel between Heathrow and Gatwick. Half of the seats being lost on the Heathrow service will be added to the Gatwick route.

Lord Marshall, Chairman of BA, went in person to the island last Friday to make the announcement in person to politicians and tourism and business leaders.

Many of those among the attendees at the briefing spoke afterwards of their disappointment and shock at the decision. 'Businessmen may stay away from the island' was one reaction; and a banker said that he would have to add staff to his London office to deal with people there who would be less inclined to travel to to the island.

Businesspeople in Guernsey, which similarly lost its Heathrow link two years ago say that there has been a considerable effect on people's travelling habits, and that they have lost custom because of it.

Also on Friday, the Jersey Transport Authority gave Jersey European Airways a licence to fly to London City Airport, but it is not allowed to offer a weekday service until the autumn in order to give VLM, which flies the same route, time to adjust its schedules to compensate for the extra competition.

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