In a string of bankruptcies and shutdowns of smaller regional airlines seen across the industry in the last months of 2025, British carrier Blue Islands serving the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey announced that it would shut down operations, in a move that left thousands of passengers stranded in different parts of Great Britain in November.
Due to the limited number of carriers that fly to the remote islands outside the United Kingdom mainland, competitors Aurigny and Scottish Loganair offered rescue fares and launched several flights to get stranded travelers back to their homes or the nearest hub.
Based out of Glasgow Airport (GLA), Loganair launched rescue flights from Guernsey into Jersey and Exeter, Bristol, and Southampton, as well as from Guernsey to Southampton, throughout November.
Emergency permission for these flights was granted to assist stranded travelers or those with voided tickets in the immediate weeks after the shutdown. Loganair also had hopes of continuing to fly between Guernsey and Southampton on a permanent basis.
“Disappointed not to be able to serve the Guernsey community”: Loganair on denied Southampton flight license
Despite Loganair’s interest in providing ongoing service between Guernsey and Southampton, The Guernsey government (the islands operate as independent entities under the British government) has refused a license to allow Loganair to continue the service, due to issues of overcapacity with Aurigny, Salisbury Journal reported.
States of Guernsey’s Transport Licensing Authority President John Gallop released a statement saying that “strong competition on these routes would likely lead to it being unviable for all operators in the longer term.”
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“We are not surprised at this outcome; however, we remain resolutely of the belief that Loganair should play a part in serving the Channel Islands community beyond our base in Jersey,” an airline representative said in a statement on the decision. “We are disappointed not to be able to serve the Guernsey community, with outbound and inbound flight opportunities that are complementary to our extensive network.”
As a result of the decision, which a spokesperson said the airline has chosen not to appeal, Loganair will begin issuing refunds for any tickets on that route booked after Jan. 15, the last date for which it holds a license to run this flight.
Loganair is a regional Scottish airline serving many smaller airports in the United Kingdom.
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Flight to Southampton on Loganair? What to know about refund options
Travelers with booked tickets whose fare class does not allow for an automatic refund can either wait to be contacted by the airline or reach out online through their flight booking. A spokesperson confirmed that anyone with disrupted travel has already received a refund or can expect one soon.
After Jan. 15, Aurigny will be the sole carrier operating the Southampton-Guernsey flight.
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While Loganair expressed “hope to serve [the community] in the future,” its immediate plans are now to focus on their operations out of Jersey as well as its other destinations to many regional airports across the United Kingdom.
Some of the smaller cities to which it flies include Aberdeen, Inverness, Tiree, Newquay, Barra, and the Isle of Man.
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