PASSENGERS should be “fairly compensated” for travel disruption – which “must be kept to a minimum”, the Chief Minister has stressed after concerns were raised in the States about the Island’s air and sea links.
Deputy Lyndon Farnham said Economic Development Minister Kirsten Morel recently met Blue Islands to discuss “recent challenges” the company was facing.
There have been delays and cancellations to flights operated by the airline in recent weeks due to issues with its fleet, leading to calls from the Jersey Consumer Council for UK and EU compensation legislation to be extended to Jersey for affected passengers.
The government previously told the JEP that any Jersey compensation scheme would need to be carefully considered “to understand the impact that it would have on route viability and ticket pricing”.
In the States on Tuesday, Deputy Farnham said the government would be “closely monitoring” the situation with Blue Islands to ensure the level of service improved.
And Deputy Farnham said the government and Ports of Jersey had been “working closely” with ferry operator DFDS as “they stand up their new service”, which he said had been done in a “short period of time” and led to schedule changes and delays.
He added that the operating agreement with DFDS meant Key Performance Indicators were published every three months, the first of which were published this month.
“Any disruption to passengers must be kept to a minimum, should be communicated early and should be fairly compensated,” he said.
Deputy Farnham added: “I think both Blue Islands and DFDS can do better.”
The Chief Minister – stepping in for Deputy Morel – was responding to an oral question from Deputy Karen Wilson regarding disruption to sea and air travel.
Deputy Farnham said: “We always expected a bumpy start with a change of ferry operator, and I expect that would take at least 12 months to bed in to get to the place where we want it to be.”
He also warned that there would be improvement works at St Malo’s port over the winter which would mean only one berth was available rather than two, presenting “new challenges in the not-too-distant future”.
Deputy Wilson asked whether the Chief Minister would commit to a performance review of all operators.
Deputy Farnham responded that while he could not commit to a wholesale review without first consulting with Deputy Morel, it was a discussion they should have, “because I do understand the concern around some areas of our transport links”.
However the Chief Minister added that he believed Jersey was “well served” by a number of operators.