Blue Islands will run direct flights from Jersey to Dublin and Norwich from next summer.

The Dublin service will start next March with up to six flights a week until late October.

The Norwich route will be running twice a week (Tuesdays and Saturdays) between 24 May and 23 September.

“As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, we’re delighted to further enhance our regional route network with new direct flights from Jersey to Dublin and Norwich. Services will provide islanders with new convenient services to more exciting destinations for summer 2022, as well as enabling more visitors to discover Jersey next summer.” - Rob Veron, Blue Islands CEO.

Ports of Jersey and Economic Development have welcomed the announcement:

"It’s great to see the confidence in these routes from Blue Islands knowing that they are providing Island residents and those wishing to holiday in Jersey or visit friends and family the opportunity to connect via these direct services.” - Matt Thomas, Group CEO.

Economic Development Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham says it will be great to have a direct link to Dublin after an absence of more than two years.

"It is equally encouraging that direct services to Norwich, which has been a long-established service for many years, has been replaced so quickly and shows the confidence in the recovery of our regional connectivity.”

Meanwhile, Ports of Jersey has told Channel 103  islanders should not fear a loss of the Gatwick connection, after British Airways scrapped plans to relaunch short-haul flights from that airport.

The carrier couldn't reach an agreement with the pilots union BALPA over staff terms and conditions for a new low-cost unit it wanted to set up.

The BA Heathrow to Jersey service is continuing through the winter until the end of March and EasyJet is running services between Jersey and Gatwick.

A Ports of Jersey spokesperson says a decision on whether BA continues with Heathrow or reverts to Gatwick next summer has yet to be confirmed.