Pictured: Rob Veron.
The airline said it ran the survey earlier this year, “to appraise the appetite within the Channel Island business community for a twice weekly direct Luxembourg service.”
Out of 400 replies, representing 164 companies and 60 individuals across the Channel Islands, 65% said that when they travel to Luxembourg it takes them more than five hours, and for half of them it costs up to £500.
Mr Veron said they’ve listened to that feedback but haven’t made any decisions about launching a new route yet.
“We listened to our business customers who identified a need for improved access to Luxembourg. Blue Islands sought further engagement from the business community through a survey which provided essential feedback on the potential route, current behaviours, propensity to travel and other service requirements and we are grateful that so many businesses participated.”
Blue Islands said if it does introduce the new route it would have to ensure there is demand for a twice weekly, direct service.
Mr Veron said work to establish that is continuing, alongside research into the potential leisure market if the service were to be introduced.
“Blue Islands can now progress to the next stage of the route evaluation which will involve individual discussions with businesses that expressed the greatest demand for the route and detailing the full cost of operation. Other considerations such as potential volumes originating in Luxembourg, leisure travel and whether a twice weekly service would satisfy market requirements will all help forecast viability and shape the final decision which will be shared in due course.”
Pictured: One of the Blue Islands ATR fleet.