The first six months of 2018 have seen a 3.3% rise in the number of air passengers travelling through Jersey Airport compared to 2017. At the end of June 2018, the Island welcomed a total of 758,239 air passengers compared to 734,159 in 2017, an increase of just over 24,000.
Air routes across the UK are performing well so far in 2018 with increased passenger numbers recorded on the majority of regions, including the London market (+1% to 361,848), Scotland (+34% to 32,282), Midlands (+3% to 49,045), North-East (+10% to 30,583) and Northern Ireland (+11% to 7,546). Both the North-West and Channel Island flights are on a par with 2017.
Air passenger numbers on the German routes, which only operate during the summer period are also reporting a +27% year to date increase compared to 2017 when a number of services did not operate due to the withdrawal of low-cost carrier Air Berlin. However, the first few months of the season has seen 7,738 passengers compared to just over 6,000 at the same time in 2017.
Low-cost carrier, easyJet, which operates eight Jersey routes over the summer period currently holds the largest market share at 36%, followed by British Airways at 23% and Flybe at 22%.
Commenting on the latest figures, Myra Shacklady from Ports of Jersey, who is responsible for the Route Development programme, says, “As we approach peak summer season we are delighted with the progress our airline partners have made so far in terms of performance and increasing passenger numbers in 2018. Given the series of routes planned for this summer, we remain confident that we will see this trend continue”.
Just over 1.6 million air passengers travelled through Jersey Airport in 2017, the highest number recorded since the year 2000.
Ports of Jersey has also seen an increase in sea passengers during May and June 2018, with 14,000 extra passengers compared to the same period in 2017. Although year to date sea passengers currently stand at -2% overall with a total of 286,404 carried compared to 292,306 for the same period 2017, these numbers are higher than in 2016, when sea passenger numbers stood at just 276,417. The main improvements are seen on the Guernsey and St Malo routes and Ports of Jersey is encouraged by this increasing trend in the run up to the peak summer season.
