New air links “vote of confidence” in Island’s tourism sector
Jersey’s tourism sector is gaining momentum with new air routes announced by Jet2, KLM, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, and Loganair, alongside a proposed 89-bedroom hotel development to boost visitor capacity. Passenger bookings and flight availability have risen, with Jet2 alone adding routes to Birmingham, Bristol, and expanding Manchester service to 120,000 seats by 2027, while ferry bookings also surge for 2026.
Jersey’s tourism industry is experiencing a resurgence with a wave of new air routes and infrastructure developments ahead of the summer season. Jet2 announced two new routes from Jersey—Birmingham and Bristol—alongside an expanded Manchester service, increasing capacity to 120,000 seats by 2027. Other airlines, including KLM, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus, and Loganair, are also enhancing connections, with KLM introducing Amsterdam flights in 2026, Lufthansa strengthening Munich routes, and Loganair launching services to East Midlands, Norwich, Paris, and Bordeaux. The growth follows a challenging period for the sector, but early signs are positive: air passenger numbers rose 3% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to 2025, and summer flight availability increased by 7%. Ferry operator DFDS reported over 150,000 bookings for 2026, further supporting the recovery. Business leaders praised the developments as a “vote of confidence” in Jersey’s appeal. Marcus Calvani, Co-chief executive of the Jersey Hospitality Association, highlighted the extended season into late October and Jet2’s expanded reach as key factors for attracting visitors. Lee Madden, president of the Chamber of Commerce, called Jet2’s expansion a strong endorsement of Jersey’s potential, emphasizing its role in supporting the visitor economy across multiple sectors. A proposed hotel development at Union House, a disused office building, could add 89 bedrooms, a restaurant, and a bar to the island’s limited hospitality infrastructure. The project, led by MAC Architectural Services on behalf of Vadis Ltd, aims to address Jersey’s declining hotel capacity, which has seen closures like the Mayfair, Stafford, Revere, and Apollo in recent years. Environment Minister Steve Luce previously stressed the need for new hotel developments to restore tourist bed numbers to previous levels. Ports of Jersey chief executive Matt Thomas and Visit Jersey chief executive Tricia Warwick both welcomed the air route expansions, framing them as critical to Jersey’s tourism revival. The combined efforts—new flights, ferry growth, and hotel plans—signal a coordinated push to strengthen the island’s position as a UK leisure destination.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.