With air travel uncertain as the war in the Middle East continues and now a jet fuel crisis rattles airlines around the world – it’s no wonder that holidaymakers are shifting in their travel plans.
Many are booking staycations, with UK holidays companies confirming an increase in bookings to spots like the coast and countryside retreats this summer.
But, at only an hour’s flight away from the UK, the Channel Islands aren’t too far to travel for people willing to jet off, and there seems to be a growing interest in them.
Jet2 recently announced it was expanding its routes to Jersey for summer 2027.
The airline has added two new routes and put additional capacity on sale, as well as extended the season.
The expansion was decided after seeing ‘continued demand’ for the destination.
Matt Thomas, chief executive of Ports of Jersey, said: ‘The growth that Jet2 has announced for 2027 demonstrates the growing confidence airlines have in Jersey.
‘Increased capacity and a longer season delivers greater choice and improved connectivity. It’s a great boost for our tourism industry, making Jersey more accessible to key UK markets and providing more flexibility for Islanders.’
Jet2 is one of several airlines to launch new routes to the Channel Islands – with an expanded service for Jersey set to take off next summer
Jet2 already operates flights to the Channel Island from the East Midlands, Leeds Bradford, Manchester and Newcastle.
But it will go on to schedule 15 weekly flights during peak periods and begin services from Birmingham and Bristol.
Loganair has also gone on to launch a new direct service between Jersey and Norwich, which will run every Saturday and began on May 9 – Jersey’s Liberation Day.
Passengers will also be able to catch a flight on Wednesdays from June 3, which will continue to run until September 19.
Another major airline, British Airways, introduced a direct flight on April 19 to Guernsey – becoming the only direct flight connecting the picturesque island to London Heathrow.
The route operates every day, throughout the year.
The Channel Islands have seen an increase in tourism over recent years, before the Iran war even started, with a rise of 17,411 more people heading to Guernsey in 2025 compared to 2024, according to the BBC.
Charlie Walker, from the Tourism Advisory Board, said: ‘We’re coming off the back of a really strong 2025 so I think expectations for 2026 are quite high.
Another major airline, British Airways, introduced a direct flight on April 19 to Guernsey (pictured)
‘We’ve certainly seen later and later booking trends so that sort of vulnerability remains because we haven’t got the full picture of what the summer season is yet looking like.
‘I’ve remained optimistic that we’re going to see a really good summer season and build upon the momentum from 2025 and hope 2026 beats that.’
She puts the increase down to Brittany Ferries launching new routes and a surge in visitors from France.
Meanwhile, on the other side of airline news, many carriers have been struggling with the Iran war and jet fuel crisis, and some have even been forced to close down.
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Are Brits only willing to fly closer to home now? As Jet2 and other airlines launch more flights to Jersey to meet demand
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