Jersey minister says government may fund ‘critical’ Heathrow flight link

Jersey’s government could step in with public funding to protect a year-round British Airways route to London, according to External Relations Minister Ian Gorst, who described the link as essential to the island’s economy. Speaking to a States scrutiny panel, Gorst said the connection was “absolutely critical to our economic future” and that reliable transport links were key to keeping the island competitive for businesses.

Gorst told the Economic Development and International Affairs Panel he would support using the island’s competitiveness fund to help the matter: “I believe it is so critical that if Ports of Jersey need financial support to deliver and maintain those, then I’m prepared and I think it is the right use of the competitiveness fund to support that.” He also flagged evening flights to the UK operated by British Airways as another priority, calling them “also critical.”

Part of a wider connectivity push

The comments tie into Jersey’s broader financial services competitiveness strategy, which lists improved connections to London as a growth driver. The government’s 2026 programme report states plainly that “Connectivity with London is vital for growth, and so we will invest in an improved flight schedule for business travellers.” The framing reflects how officials increasingly treat air links less as a transport issue and more as a direct factor in the island’s ability to compete for financial services business.

Gorst acknowledged that maintaining air links has grown harder, pointing to EasyJet’s decision to cut some routes after fuel costs rose following the outbreak of conflict between the US, Israel and Iran. Under a five-year agreement reached in 2024, British Airways had committed to running 19 weekly flights between Jersey and London Gatwick alongside 21 to London Heathrow. Gorst said he had raised the importance of these routes directly with the island’s economic development minister as well as with Ports of Jersey, the body authorised by government to negotiate with airlines on the island’s behalf.

Source: BBC News