There are currently no plans to suspend direct flights from Jersey to Bordeaux as a result of wildfires in the French region, Loganair has confirmed.
Around 220,000 people have been evacuated in France, where firefighters are battling some of the worst blazes in the country’s history.
The fires, which broke out last week near the Atlantic coast, are now only nine miles from entry points to the main metropolitan area of Bordeaux.
Mayor Thomas Cazenave said he is preparing for “all eventualities” should further evacuations be ordered.
Loganair, which launched direct flights from Jersey to Bordeaux this summer, told Express that there are “no plans” to suspend operations at the time.
However, a Loganair spokesperson added that, if operations were suspended by Bordeaux airport authorities, then no airlines would be able to fly to the south-western city.
Loganair passengers will be contacted directly with any updates.
On Monday, Bordeaux Airport published a statement confirming that the “airport is currently operational and is doing everything it can to provide the region with all the necessary support in the ongoing fight against the fires”.
“In coordination with the relevant authorities, priority is currently being given to departing flights,” the statement said.
“Bus and tram services remain operational. However, the tram operates non-stop between Mérignac Soleil and Bordeaux Airport.”
Hotels located in close proximity to Bordeaux Airport are currently closed, with guests asked to contact accommodation sites located outside of evacuation areas.
Islander Steve Pallot flew to Bordeaux last Friday on Loganair’s direct flight from Jersey. His return flight has now been rerouted to Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris.
Mr Pallot said: “Loganair emailed us to say that they cancelled the flight and that if we wanted to reroute via Charles de Gaulle, there would be no cost implications.
“The only thing is, we had to get to Charles de Gaulle, and Loganair wouldn’t cover the cost of that.”
Mr Pallot explained that the impact of the wildfires was immediately noticeable when he arrived in France.
“When flying into Bordeaux, there was a lot of smoke and you could see the fires. There were most probably four or five different areas of fire,” he said.
“It looked fairly scary, but when we were landing at the airport, it was most probably 20 kilometres away, so it didn’t present a problem at the airport.”
He added: “Being on the ground was very smoggy, like a big cloud overhanging the city, with a very strong smell of burning wood.
“It got that bad that we ended up buying some masks, as it wasn’t good to breathe that in.
“I would say 50% of the people walking around the city had masks on as well, so it wasn’t too healthy, but a lot of people just carried on with life as normal.”
