Will be interesting to see what the loads are like! Hopefully Blue Islands on the way back.

Says on the note ATR42 but if it is an ATR72 so much the better!

A ATR72 operated by Stobart Air (EI-FMK) arrived in JER from SEN this morning to operate on behalf of Blue Islands. The aircraft is planned to operate the following flights today:

BE6405 JER 07:30 GCI 07:50
BE6406 GCI 08:10 JER 08:30
BE6411 JER 08:50 GCI 09:10
BE6412 GCI 09:30 JER 09:50

Stobart are also showing as operating the Blue Islands flights listed below tomorrow:

BE6350 JER 07:00 SOU 07:50
BE6351 SOU 08:20 JER 09:10
BE6366 JER 11:00 SOU 11:50
BE6367 SOU 12:20 JER 13:10

Does anyone know if EI-FMK is going to remain on the ground in JER until tomorrow or is it going to return to SEN this afternoon before returning again tomorrow?.

She is required back at SEN this morning 1100 for normal ops.

So NQY / JER should be a 72 then tomorrow?

They surely made a commercial decision based on loads. Painful yes but have been on many a flight with single digit passenger numbers. Reputation wise it is not wise but I imagine they're on cut throat margins, like most domestic airlines these days (I surmise)

Whoops. Came up as a new post

Would have waved had I known Simon
30 on today's GCI/JER/NQY otherwise loads seem to be early 20's and 11 on one flight. All flights we used bang on time or early.

You may find the current changes, leasing of aircraft, new routes and new ground handling agents are probably due to the little known fact that Blue Islands are up for sale. Now yes every business has its price but Blue Islands have actually have a company / broker actively looking for buyer for the airline. This comes from a source who works for an airline on the mainland that was actually approached by the broker to see if they would be interested in buying BI. (I have searched the web but cannot find it listed so if anyone knows where to look please advise me) Several recent events have lead to this.They were / are in a franchise partnership with Flybe who as we all know have recently been sold – making this uncertain moving forward. You will notice the last 2 leased aircraft have been painted and delivered in white with Blue Islands engine covers rather than the Flybe colours.Guernsey recently removed their licensing system which means it now has an open skies policy meaning BI no longer have the monopoly on GCI-SOU or GCI-JER routes (Aurigny are now competing on both of these taking a lot the BI customers).The BI owner is not in good health and no-one appears to want to take over the reins with several high profile members of their team recently leaving their positions.To bolster their chances of being sold they have recently started their own ground handling at GCI and started several new routes including Liverpool, Newquay and Southend. This makes them look a bigger growing airline where as in fact they have no assets as all aircraft are leased and all routes are at best just breaking even.I’m guessing they are wet leasing from Stobart and Sprint air so they don’t have to sign long term lease agreements on aircraft as this would deter any potential purchaser.

This doesn't surprise me as the UK airline industry is rapidly consolidating and will shortly only be left with BE/VS & Loganiar for the regions (Eastern & BI being wound up/acquired)

I cannot see anyone wanting to take this on & sadly fear the worst for all those that have recently been taken on as ground staff at GCI.

I have no sympathy for BI losing passengers to Aurigny, it was only a few years ago they broke Aurigny's monopoly on the JER & ACI routes & Flybe's on the SOU & then gradually pinched all their pax, now the boots on the other foot BI cry foul! Tough luck I say.