Loganair CEO Luke Farajallah Visits Guernsey to Discuss New Island Routes

Loganair is exploring opportunities to operate routes from Guernsey, its chief executive said, nearly a year after the airline's licence applications to fly from the island were not approved. Yahoo reported the comments from CEO Luke Farajallah.

Farajallah Pitches Loganair as a Partner for Guernsey

Farajallah said he was visiting the island for discussions about future aviation links. He said: "We're not a hostile intruder, we come in peace."

Loganair previously applied for licences to operate flights between Guernsey and Jersey and between Guernsey and Southampton following the collapse of Blue Islands, but withdrew its applications after they were provisionally refused.

Farajallah said any future expansion would need to be commercially viable and complement Aurigny, the States-owned airline. "If there's a match, then we will be there in a heartbeat," he said.

Asked which routes interested the airline, Farajallah said the key licence routes out of Guernsey are the ones that make Guernsey work, with anything more potentially based on a summer charter operation. He said Loganair operates Bordeaux and Paris and that connections could be made from Guernsey as well.

Farajallah said Loganair was not currently seeking to compete with Aurigny on the Guernsey-Jersey route, adding he did not see the need for two airlines operating it.

Aurigny Weighs the Case for More Competition

Aurigny CEO Nico Bezuidenhout said the island's aviation market was open to additional airlines, provided their services were complementary to existing connections. He said: "I think the jury is out to see what level of additional competition it can sustain."

Bezuidenhout said that regardless of passenger demand, "our reason for existence and our mandate from our shareholder is to protect lifeline routes". He said Aurigny has to provide six flights a day into Gatwick, whether there are passengers or not.

Loganair's Recent Network Changes

Loganair cancelled its Newcastle-to-Southampton and Newcastle-to-Exeter flights effective 24 October, leaving only the Newcastle-Jersey service, EIN Presswire reported in October 2026. The airline cited network reviews and resilience as reasons.

In September 2026, Loganair said it would end its Isle of Man-London City route on 23 October, replacing it with two return flights daily to Heathrow, the BBC reported. The airline cited customer demand.

In August 2026, Loganair confirmed the withdrawal of all its operations from Dundee Airport, including the end of its service to London Heathrow on 23 October, the BBC reported.

Loganair is the UK's largest regional airline, operating more than 30 aircraft across more than 70 routes and serving over 40 airports, according to akta.pro company records. The airline was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Paisley.