Ready for a love affair with Paris? New direct route to launch

Islanders looking for romance, culture, or just a dreamy weekend getaway can now fall in love with Paris all over again – as direct flights to the French capital have been announced today.

Blue Islands’ direct flights to Charles de Gaulle Airport are due to begin on 22 May, running on Mondays and Thursdays until 30 October, with the service already confirmed to return in 2026.

Last month, Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel said the government would “mobilise up to £2m over the next two years” through its Better Business Support Package to assist the development of new air routes.

Ports of Jersey chief executive Matt Thomas said the new service to Paris was being supported by “a very small proportion of that £2m”, with the money being spent on “marketing and promotion of the route”.

“When we start any route, to ensure its success and viability, it’s about sharing the risk in the initial phase. We’re absolutely delighted that this route is going to run for a minimum of two years,” he added.

He explained that the new service to Paris could also serve as a “proof of concept”, generating further interest from airlines which could lead to additional routes.

“Since the announcement of the Better Business Support Package, we’ve had airlines approach us on an unsolicited basis. Normally the onus is very much on the Airport to do the sell,” he continued.

“Airlines plan a long way in advance. We had already been speaking to Blue Islands, trying to make this one work.

“It’s great to get the interest of other airlines, as it’s between now and September/October that the airlines make their decisions for next year.”

He described the Blue Islands flights to Charles de Gaulle as “a great start”.

Commenting on whether Islanders could expect more routes to be announced before the end of this year, Mr Thomas said: “This is a really encouraging milestone that gives us confidence that will be the case.”

He added that there were multiple reasons that the new Paris route could be viewed as “awesome”.

“One is the ability for Islanders to go for a weekend, on a flight that’s less than an hour, to the heart of one of Europe’s biggest cities. The second is the potential for bringing inbound tourism,” he continued.

“It’s such a huge city that’s so well connected, so fingers crossed we can build awareness of Jersey. The third reason is the value to our economy and almost the cultural value of being able to travel to Paris.”

Blue Islands CEO Rob Veron said: “Valentine’s Day is perfect to announce new direct flights from Jersey to one of the world’s most romantic cities, enabling Islanders to enjoy everything Paris has to offer this summer.

“It’s also an exciting opportunity for visitors from France to discover our beautiful island. The connection with Paris not only supports Jersey’s visitor economy but also deepens the long-standing cultural and economic ties between Jersey and France.

“This further addition cements our position as Jersey’s largest carrier in terms of number of flights and choice of routes, with a total of 24 different airports (including our inbound charter activity) served in 2025.”