Regional UK airport gets new direct flights to one of the world’s best islands

AN AIRLINE is launching flights from Newcastle International Airport to Jersey and Guernsey.

Blue Islands, a regional airline of the Channel Islands, will run direct services between Newcastle and the two islands from next year.

Newcastle International Airport was crowned the ‘Overall Winner’ at the Routes World Awards 2024.

The northeastern English airport also retained its title of ‘Airport of the Year‘ in the under 5 million passengers category for the second year running.

Over the last year, the English airport has added several new routes.

Its latest expansion is a new nonstop service to the Channel Islands.

The services will start on May 3, 2025, and will run until November 2, 2025.

The thrice-weekly service will operate every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, making weekend visits feasible for Brits in the northeast of England.

When the seasonal service ends in November, Brits from Newcastle will still be able to reach the Channel Islands via Southampton Airport with Loganair.

Blue Islands chief revenue officer Ronnie Matheson said: “It’s exciting to expand the connectivity we proudly provide the Channel Islands.

“Blue Islands’ new schedule will make a real difference for the many thousands of customers wishing to fly between the north-east, Guernsey and Jersey, whom we’re sure will welcome the choice of up to three direct flights each week. 

“We’re confident that this will become a firm favourite in our route network.”

The news comes just weeks after the regional airline announced it would run new services from East Midlands Airport, Exeter Airport and Norwich Airport to Guernsey.

From March 2025, Exeter Airport will see up to six flights per week with a year-round schedule.

A twice-weekly seasonal service will operate from Norwich Airport with stops in Jersey, from May 10, 2025.

Meanwhile, East Midlands Airport will have three flights per week.

Blue Islands already operates a route from Guernsey to Southampton alongside Aurigny.

Aurigny Airlines, the flag carrier for Bailiwick of Guernsey, also operates routes from Guernsey to the UK Mainland.

The flag carrier operates a route between London Gatwick and Guernsey, with as many as six flights operating between the two airports on any given day.

Plenty of other UK airports also have direct flights to Guernsey, including Manchester, Exeter, Leeds Bradford, Southampton, Birmingham, Bristol.

A direct route also operates between Dublin and Guernsey with Aurigny Airlines.

What is there to do in Jersey and Guernsey?

Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, was named one of the world’s best islands in the Conde Nast Travellers’ 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards.

Firstly, Jersey beaches are well known for their beauty, with a range of landscapes on offer, from wide, open spaces to secluded coves and lunar-like expanses.

Many of the beaches in Jersey, such as St Brelade’s Bay, are also lined with palm trees, giving them a tropical feel.

Despite being only nine miles long and three miles wide, there’s plenty to keep holidaymakers entertained on Guernsey too.

Guernsey is often compared to the Caribbean because of its golden beaches, crystal-clear waters and exotic landscapes.

In a video caption on TikTok, lifeinguernsey wrote: “You could be in the Caribbean” as she panned footage of white sandy beaches”.

Popular activities on the island include surfing, dolphin-spotting, and island hopping to some of the smaller Channel Islands.

The Low-cost airline easyJet is launching a new route between London Gatwick and Rimini, with flights to start operating in April.

Meanwhile, Jet2 is poised to launch a new base at London Luton Airport.