Jersey Airport - Part 4

My history blog today comes from the 1980 edition of Aircraft Illustrated.

British Isles 'Airports: No 10: Jersey
by David H. Kirkman
(Flightlines International)

It was British Airways' 5 October 1979 announcement of the abandonment of 26 of its domestic UK routes which prompted the most recent series of changes in the organisation of air services to Jersey, the BA withdrawal taking effect at the end of March 1980. Among the operators acquiring the former BA routes serving Jersey was JEA, which acquired, for example, the licence to operate to Newcastle.

Newly evident in 1980 (at Jersey as elsewhere) has been the Air UK presence, the airline having been launched in January this year. Among its routes to Jersey are those from Glasgow. Exeter, Bournemouth and Southampton, and included in the ex-British Airways services acquired in April 1980 was the Edinburgh-Jersey route.

The States of Jersey Airport is more than just a transit point for passengers en-route to the island's sunshine and its beaches, or for the freighting of the famous Jersey cows and horticultural produce. The airport also sports a thriving, vigorous aero club situated on the south-east boundary. It provides good hangarage and training facilities and is in fact a Civil Aviation Authority-approved flying school.

Starting with modest means, and Auster equipment, in 1952, the Channel Islands Aero Club hosts a major rally and fly-in at the airport each May. Probably the largest international air rally now held in Europe, every year about 150-200 aircraft converge on the tiny island from all over the UK and Europe to take part. A remarkable degree of skill and dexterity is exhibited by the air traffic control staff in handling this vast influx amid all the regular passenger and freight traffic.

The home of civil aviation in Jersey has moved from that tidal strip in St Aubin's Bay to a major UK airport having international status in a turbulent and interrupted 45 years. There appears every reason that the island will remain a popular tourist centre for the future and that aviation in the area will progress with the continued blend of commercial and general aviation activity that marks the local scene - from airline operations to air rallys.

Acknowledgement

The Author would like to thank Mr R. Peebles, Assistant Director – Airport Administration, States of Jersey Airport, and Servisair, ground handling specialists at Jersey, for their help and co-operation in the preparation of this article.