Guernsey Ports releases detained Blue Islands aircraft

Guernsey Ports has released two Blue Islands aircraft that had been impounded after a financial settlement was reached with the planes’ owners over unpaid fees, officials have confirmed.

The two ATR-72 aircraft had been held at Guernsey Airport since the regional airline ceased trading in mid-November. The States of Guernsey said the agreement would allow it to recover most of the outstanding debt owed to Guernsey Ports.

Any remaining unpaid fees will be pursued through a claim submitted to the airline’s liquidators, the government added.

The States’ Trading Supervisory Board said it was represented during negotiations by Guernsey’s Law Officers and that no external legal costs were incurred.

Committee president Deputy Mark Helyar said Guernsey Ports acted quickly following the airline’s sudden collapse to protect the island’s financial interests.

“The situation involved complex and detailed discussions with the owners of the aircraft, with expert legal assistance provided by the Law Officers,” he said. “The settlement reached is very positive for the island and reflects the efforts of everyone involved.”

When Blue Islands entered administration, it owed £9.1m to the Government of Jersey, while Ports of Jersey was owed £3.2m. Nearly 100 employees were made redundant following the airline’s collapse, liquidators Ernst & Young LLP confirmed.

The deadline for submitting claims external to the liquidators is 29 December 2025