HOLIDAY plans were ruined when Blue Islands cancelled an Alderney couple’s flight.
Richard Wood, 69, was due to fly to Bournemouth with the airline next month.
Mr Wood, his wife Molly and their dog were booked to fly out on Thursday 9 and return to Alderney on Saturday 25 April.
‘We received a call from the airline stating that our flights had been cancelled,’ he said yesterday.
‘They said that they were sorry and we were to receive a full refund. However, I found that they were very unhelpful and did not state the conditions of our refund, nor offer us any alternative routes.’
Mr Wood, who works part-time for an advocate, said he had planned to send his car to Poole on the ferry but now that he could not fly to Bournemouth the cost and inconvenience of getting to his vehicle had greatly increased.
‘We have made this journey with Blue Islands 10 times now and found it easy.’ said Mr Wood.
‘I was really angry when I first got the call, but now the anger has turned into worry. We are unsure whether we should go ahead and book alternative flights with Aurigny, or wait to hear back from Blue Islands.’
Blue Islands has dropped its Bournemouth route, which included a stop-off in Guernsey and Jersey because, it said, it no longer fitted in with the airline’s long-term expansion plans.
Chairman Derek Coates said the airline was changing schedules to allow it to use its aircraft better to benefit tourism.
‘Maintaining links between Guernsey and the south coast of England is an important part of Blue Islands’ future plans,’ he said, but there had been little
demand on the Bournemouth route.
‘The airline will be concentrating on new routes and will be increasing connecting flights to Alderney.’
Blue Islands is expected to release a full report of its plans today.
Mr Coates said passengers affected were being contacted. Alternative flights to Southampton or Bristol, subject to licence, were being offered or full refunds given.
If you have been affected by a cancellation, contact Emily Burden at reporter@guernsey-press.com or call 240226.
Article posted on 25th March, 2009 - 2.29pm
13 Article Comments
Typical Blue Islands !!!
Alderney has never been properly served by Blue Islands. They have USED and ABUSED Alderney as a spring board to gain their commerical passenger flying license to then actively go after other established Airlines routes which turn a profit but, not enough profit for two airlines.
Aurigny serves Alderney well and it needs to be protected from the likes of Mr.Dereck Coates and Blue Islands. I think we can now all safely assume that the debonair Mr.Coates will now actively pursue the Alderney to Southampton route and promise the earth to obtain this route stating unfair practice and monolopy if he doesn’t get his own way!!. And then when two airlines can’t compete and make a profit on this route will Aurigny pull out as they did with the Jersey route when Mr.Coates demanded to be allowed to fly and then dropped like a hot stone when he couldn’t turn a profit. I hope he is refused the Southampton to Alderney route and we can stick to “better the devil you know” – AURIGNY !!
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You missed out the failed call center for Healthspan, and the white elephant of a hotel/bar that is undercutting every other business on the island due to Mr Coates and his bottomless pit of money. As the man said in his own words “I will be bringing new business to the island not taking other peoples”. Cue the laughter of everyone in the tourism industry that was sold down the river the day he was allowed to start his business over here…
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I hope this is not the start of an agreesive stance by Blue Islands against Aurigny. Aurigny has been with us for over 40 years and has provided a reliable and stable service. In the three years since Blue Islands came into the ownership of Healthspan we have seen flights from Guernsey to Bournemouth, Cardiff, St. Brieuc and Beauvais axed and flights from Alderney to Jersey, Bournemouth and Shoreham also axed. This is not very inspiring. I hope the authorities will see sense and refuse Blue Islands a Bristol licence. Wouldn’t it be nice if Blue Islands started routes to new places rather than trying to take business off of Aurigny.
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I would never ever fly with Blue Islands. Their prices are ridiculous, I have had arguments with their staff members about prices before only to be told ‘if you don’t like it, don’t fly with us’. What a way to win customers.
To be honest, I don’t really fly with Aurigny very often, I normally just go with Flybe. However I have booked with Aurigny (it was cheaper) in May, partly because I’m hoping it’ll be on one of the new planes
I can’t see Blue Islands being granted a Bristol route. They should focus more on new links – to France preferably, the UK is well served really, France however is not. Around the Brest area maybe?
I hope the States see sense and don’t give Bristol to Blue Islands. It isn’t needed….
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Well, it was no suprise to the people in Alderney.
We all sat and listened to the wonderful Mr Coates telling us all what a fantastic business he was going to have and how all the people in alderney would benefit from him! Absolute rubbish!
They do not care about the people in ALDERNEY!Many businesses in alderney have been badly affected by the braye beach practically giving away its hotel rooms. It is now cheaper to stay at Braye Beach than at a guest house! Blue Islands should not be given any further licences, they will only pull the plug on them. I have friends who were booked to come from Bournemouth to Alderney on 1st April. Their flight was cancelled. Why? when the airline claim they are stopping the route from 19th April!I could go on… ie; the tax payers money thats been spent to advertise in bournemouth, the overwhelming support that was given to the hotel and airline by the sts of ald. You could be forgiven for thinking there was only one airline and only one hotel in alderney!
When the last Aurigny plane leaves here, I will be on it! I am not flying with Blue Islands!
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Wow !!. I never realised that I wasn’t the only one with this opinion.
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A little, quote, Paul:
“Paul March 11, 2009 at 11:58 am
The best outcome would be for Blue Islands to take it over if they had the desire too. If anybody could make it work it would be Derek Coates. He seems to be our local version of Richard Branson!”
Hey, fast footwork!
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Having worked for the lovely R Branson I can assure you that the owner of Blue Islands is a minnow in the pool when it comes to being ruthless!
Not to say that Blue Islands is ok when it does these sorts of things. I think that Blue Islands will start to tailor their departures and arrivals in Alderney to coincide with the departure times and dates of the clients at Braye Beach.
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Time for Aurigny to re-instate their services to Bournemouth.
Tony Webber
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>>Time for Aurigny to re-instate their services to Bournemouth.<<
If its not viable, I’d rather they didn’t. It’s not like there arent any other ways of getting to the South Coast of England.
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Tony Webber – time for you to give it a rest and let someone with some commercial acumen make a fiscally prudent decision.
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Blue Islands are in no hurry to refund peoples cancelled airfares which under the circumstances adds insult to injury.
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Since Blue Islands started cutting routes in 2001, they have cut SEVEN ROUTES;
Cardiff,
St. Brueic,
Cherbourg,
Alderney – Jersey,
Bournemouth,
Shoreham and
Paris Beauvais
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