Jersey in 'advanced talks' over new routes
The boss of the organisation responsible for aviation activity in Jersey has said it is in "advanced conversations" with a number of airlines about establishing new routes.
Ports of Jersey CEO, Matt Thomas made the comment following news of government investment aimed at persuading more carriers to fly into Jersey.
He said he was "very confident" that flights to destinations like Paris and Frankfurt would be available within five years.
Earlier this week ministers confirmed plans to spend £2m over the next two years on the project.
Speaking after the announcement, Mr Thomas said the investment of public funds makes Jersey a "more exciting prospect to some airlines".
"We are at the table. We are very, very competitive in terms of what it costs to land and turn around your plane in Jersey", he said.
He also said there were more than 20 airlines that don't currently fly to Jersey Ports of Jersey is in regular contact with.
He added Jersey needed to prove it could deliver "value for money for tourists and businesses" to make it viable for airlines.
Visit Jersey will also receive a separate grant in order to market Jersey as a holiday destination in any of the places where new routes are secured.
It will receive £4m over the next two years, the majority of which will be spent on "route marketing".
Tricia Warwick, chief executive of Visit Jersey, said: "It's all about creating connectivity into Europe, and the main markets that we're focused on developing are France and Germany.
"You've got to have a compelling reason for them to come, and value for money is part of that."
Making the funding announcement, Deputy Kirsten Morel said: "If Jersey is to succeed in having sustainable air routes over many years they have to deliver that to the airlines and that's where the better business support package comes in.
"It provides that incentive for the airlines to try it, but if an airline sees that it's not getting the return it wants it will cut any link."
Earlier this month, airline Blue Islands announced plans to fly direct to three European destinations, Bilbao, Verona and Munich, later this year.
Aim to attract airline routes with £2m investment
Blue Islands to introduce flights to Newcastle
Ports of Jersey
Visit Jersey
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
32 minutes ago
NATO chief Rutte calls for 400% increase in the alliance's air and missile defense
LONDON -- LONDON (AP) — NATO members need to increase their air and missile defenses by 400% to counter the threat from Russia, the head of the military alliance plans to say on Monday. Secretary-General Mark Rutte will say during a visit to London that NATO must take a 'quantum leap in our collective defense' to face growing instability and threats, according to extracts released by NATO before Rutte's speech. Rutte is due to meet U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer at 10 Downing St. ahead of a NATO summit in the Netherlands where the 32-nation alliance is likely to commit to a big hike in military spending. Like other NATO members, the U.K. has been reassessing its defense spending since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Starmer has pledged to increase British defense spending to 2.5% of gross domestic product by 2027 and to 3% by 2034. Rutte has proposed a target of 3.5% of economic output on military spending and another 1.5% on 'defense-related expenditure' such as roads, bridges, airfields and sea ports. He said last week he is confident the alliance will agree to the target at its summit in The Hague on June 24-25. At the moment, 22 of the 32 member countries meet or exceed NATO's current 2% target. The new target would meet a demand by President Donald Trump that member states spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense. Trump has long questioned the value of NATO and complained that the U.S. provides security to European countries that don't contribute enough. Rutte plans to say in a speech at the Chatham House think tank in London that NATO needs thousands more armored vehicles and millions more artillery shells, as well as a 400% increase in air and missile defense. 'We see in Ukraine how Russia delivers terror from above, so we will strengthen the shield that protects our skies,' he plans to say. 'Wishful thinking will not keep us safe. We cannot dream away the danger. Hope is not a strategy. So NATO has to become a stronger, fairer and more lethal alliance.' European NATO members, led by the U.K. and France, have scrambled to coordinate their defense posture as Trump transforms American foreign policy, seemingly sidelining Europe as he looks to end the war in Ukraine. Last week the U.K. government said it would build new nuclear-powered attack submarines, prepare its army to fight a war in Europe and become 'a battle-ready, armor-clad nation.' The plans represent the most sweeping changes to British defenses since the collapse of the Soviet Union more than three decades ago.
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Ryan acquires Inspired
Tax services and software provider Ryan has acquired Inspired Corporate Advisory, a firm that focuses on tax advisory and compliance services. Inspired specialises in areas such as research and development , capital allowances, and patent box incentives. Located in Northern Ireland, the Inspired team will enhance Ryan's regional capabilities and tax services. The team comprises experienced tax professionals with significant expertise in the industry. The integration is designed to cater to enterprise clients across various sectors, particularly in engineering, construction, and building supply. The acquisition will strengthen the firm's proficiency in corporate tax compliance, incentives, and advisory services. Ryan European and Asia-Pacific operations president Tom Shave said: 'As one of Northern Ireland's only dedicated tax firms, Inspired is well aligned to Ryan's commitment to providing bespoke client services focused on business taxes. 'This acquisition strengthens our growth strategy as, together, we look to expand our presence in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.' Ryan has appointed Inspired partners Eugene O'Neill and Michael Heinicke as principals of the firm. Furthermore, 16 team members will bring more than 60 years of collective experience from both industry and major accounting firms. Notably, Colm Cavanagh, a distinguished former Gaelic football player, will act as a key authority for client engagement. This acquisition also signifies an expansion of Ryan's global presence with the opening of two new office locations in Holywood and Dungiven. Inspired co-founder and new Ryan principal Eugene O'Neill said: 'As a global Firm, Ryan's focused commitment to providing strategic tax solutions with local expertise backed by extensive technology is tremendously beneficial for our clients. 'Ryan's results-based approach to client service, wherever they operate in the world, offers the best platform to grow Inspired and maximize tax savings for our clients.' Earlier in June 2025, Ryan acquired The Albano Group's real and personal property tax service lines. "Ryan acquires Inspired" was originally created and published by International Accounting Bulletin, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Los Angeles Times
an hour ago
- Los Angeles Times
New disputes emerge ahead of U.S.-China trade talks in London
BEIJING — U.S.-China trade talks in London this week are expected to take up a series of fresh disputes that have buffeted relations, threatening a fragile truce over tariffs. Both sides agreed in Geneva last month to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since then, the U.S. and China have exchanged angry words about advanced semiconductors that power artificial intelligence, 'rare earths' that are vital to carmakers and other industries, and visas for Chinese students at American universities. President Trump spoke at length with Chinese leader Xi Jinping by phone Thursday in an attempt to put relations back on track. Trump announced on social media the next day that trade talks would be held Monday in London. The latest frictions began just a day after the May 12 announcement of the Geneva agreement to 'pause' tariffs for 90 days. The U.S. Commerce Department issued guidance saying the use of Ascend AI chips from Huawei, a leading Chinese tech company, could violate U.S. export controls. That's because the chips were probably developed with American technology despite restrictions on its export to China, the guidance said. The Chinese government wasn't pleased. One of its biggest beefs in recent years has been over U.S. moves to limit the access of Chinese companies to technology, and in particular to equipment and processes needed to produce the most advanced semiconductors. 'The Chinese side urges the U.S. side to immediately correct its erroneous practices,' a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesperson said. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick wasn't in Geneva but will join the talks in London. Analysts say that suggests at least a willingness on the U.S. side to hear out China's concerns on export controls. One area where China holds the upper hand is in the mining and processing of rare earths. They are crucial for not only autos but also other products such as robots and military equipment. The Chinese government started requiring producers to obtain a license to export seven rare-earth elements in April. Resulting shortages sent automakers worldwide into a tizzy. As stockpiles ran down, some worried they would have to halt production. Trump, without mentioning rare earths specifically, took to social media to attack China. 'The bad news is that China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US,' Trump posted on May 30. The Chinese government indicated Saturday that it is addressing the concerns, which have come from European companies as well. A Commerce Ministry statement said it had granted some approvals and 'will continue to strengthen the approval of applications that comply with regulations.' The scramble to resolve the rare-earth issue shows that China has a strong card to play if it wants to strike back against tariffs or other measures. Student visas don't normally figure in trade talks, but a U.S. announcement that it would begin revoking the visas of some Chinese students has emerged as another thorn in the relationship. The Chinese Commerce Ministry raised the issue when asked last week about the accusation that it had violated the consensus reached in Geneva. It replied that the U.S. had undermined the agreement by issuing export control guidelines for AI chips, stopping the sale of chip design software to China and saying it would revoke Chinese student visas. 'The United States has unilaterally provoked new economic and trade frictions,' the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a May 28 statement that the United States would 'aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.' More than 270,000 Chinese students studied in the U.S. in the 2023-24 academic year. Moritsugu writes for the Associated Press.
