Compensation calls for Blue Island passengers

Deputy Inna Gardiner has called for passengers impacted by Blue Islands flight delays and cancellations to get compensation.

Passengers travelling by Blue Islands have faced recent disruption with some islanders missing medical appointments in Southampton because of cancellations.

The airline removed 28 flights from its summer schedule due to one aircraft being damaged and another new addition to its fleet being delayed.

Economic Development Minister Deputy Kirsten Morel acknowledged the airline had not been performing well enough but said a compensation scheme could make flight routes less viable.

Deputy Gardiner told the BBC that islanders could not continue to pay for delays and cancellations.

She said: "I would encourage the minister for sustainable economic development and the consumer council to get together to find a way that islanders can be protected, can be compensated and can be reimbursed.

"Whether its through the insurance company, or through the airline or through a special compensation scheme."

Deputy Morel said a compensation scheme would not be introduced in this government term.

He said: "If you start a compensation scheme its going to add significant cost to the viability of the routes, that means routes will become less viable and so you could see airlines pulling out of certain routes if they are forced to be part of a compensation scheme.

"It would take some time to look at properly and its not something we are going to look at between now and the end of the states assembly."

During a States Assembly sitting, the minister encouraged islanders to get travel insurance.

However Deputy Louise Doublet responded by saying insurance companies were not always paying out because they wrongly thought islanders were protected by EU law regarding flight cancellations.

The Jersey Consumer Council said UK and EU law meant passengers on UK and EU-based airlines could claim more than £200 compensation for cancellations - but the equivalent law does not exist in the Channel Islands.

Deputy Morel said if this issue was happening to people they should go to the Channel Islands' financial services ombudsman.

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