Scottish regional airline Loganair and Blue Islands, a growing Channel-Islands based airline, have announced an extensive partnership to offer a new range of regional air connections across the UK, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

The airlines say the partnership will result in seamless connections between their flights, enabling customers to buy a single ticket to benefit from lower fares and guaranteed connections on a wide range of links between Scotland, the North East and the Isle of Man to the south coast and the Channel Islands.

Loganair operates 43 aircraft, predominantly on routes to, from and within Scotland, and Blue Islands operates five aircraft. The carrier is now also adding two UK bases with new services including Manchester to Exeter and Manchester to Southampton following the failure of Flybe in early March.

Boosting connectivity

The partnership will re-build connectivity to help boost the UK and Channel Islands’ economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. The airlines say the ability to book journeys in a single ticket through either airline’s website will enable customers to save the double air passenger duty which would apply if tickets for the flights were purchased separately, as well as offering guaranteed connections in the event of weather or other disruptions to their travel plans.

Commenting on the new partnership, Loganair’s chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “We’re delighted to be working with Blue Islands to offer this new range of connections for customers throughout the UK. Providing dependable air services to communities throughout the UK, the Channel Islands and Isle of Man is a core part of the ‘DNA’ of both airlines, and by joining up our networks, we can help many more customers reach their destination.”

Blue Islands’ chief executive Rob Veron commented: “We are excited to form this new partnership with Loganair, hand in hand with a significant expansion of our own route network after 15 years of Channel Islands’ centred operations. It further enhances Blue Islands’ commitment to deliver robust and reliable regional air connectivity. We are delighted to be able to offer customers an extended route network with the peace of mind of guaranteed connections, air passenger duty savings and the easy convenience of checked-through hold luggage in a single ticket.”

Flights will soon be available to book on the Loganair and Blue Islands websites.