Guernsey sees increase in flights to Southampton

The company purchased ATR-72 aircraft to run on the Southampton route

There will be an increase in flights between Guernsey and Southampton following Flybe pulling out of the Gatwick route.

Flybe stopped flying the route in May 2013 selling its slots to EasyJet.

Channel Islands airline Blue Islands has now announced plans to increase the number of flights from Guernsey to Southampton from three to four per day.

The airline says there will now be 40,000 seats on the Guernsey to Southampton service every year.

Flybe retained its Guernsey to Southampton service. The Exeter-based airline currently operates four flights per day on the route.

In May, 5,104 fewer passengers used services between Guernsey and Gatwick, a drop of 16% from May 2013, whereas Southampton services saw a 44% year-on-year increase with 5,276 extra passengers.

The only airline flying between Guernsey and Gatwick is government-owned Aurigny.