Jersey to ‘reconnect with the rest of the world’ on 26 April

Links with the UK and other Channel Islands will be reestablished first

Opening soon: the coast of Jersey (Visit Jersey)

Jersey, the largest of the Channel Islands, will reopen travel links with the UK on 26 April.

Lyndon Farnham, the deputy chief minister, said: “From 26 April we will be permitting travel to and from the United Kingdom and other Crown Dependencies only.”

The Crown Dependencies comprise the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

Areas in the UK will be classified red, amber or green, depending on the infection rates. Before the latest lockdown, Jersey graded zones as small as single London boroughs.

All visitors will have to provide their travel history online in advance and undertake three PCR tests: on arrival and on days five and 10. At present the tests are free to visitors.

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People from green locations – which have no more than 50 new cases per 100,000 people in 14 days – are required to isolate only until they have a negative result from their arrival test.

Those arriving from amber zones must isolate in their hotel until they have received a Day Five negative test result.

Red zones arrivals must isolate until they have a Day 10 negative test result.

Three weeks later, on 17 May – the day that England plans to reintroduce international leisure travel – red, amber and green classifications will be extended to all nations.

“Not only does the reintroduction of our Safer Travel Policy allow visitors to enjoy our island again – bringing much needed life to our island hotels and restaurants – it also provides islanders a welcome opportunity to travel again,” said Mr Farnham.

“So many of us have felt isolated during the Pandemic, even with our friends and family around us.

“Many of us know that that one of the joys of living on an island is the ability to escape it, even for a few days.”

Jersey’s health service has so far administered 45,000 coronavirus vaccinations doses, covering 46 per cent of the adult population.

The island intends to offer a first vaccine to every adult by early May.

The chief minister, John Le Fondré, said to prospective visitors: “We absolutely welcome you to Jersey, but please respect the rules.”

He said “later on this year” people who have proof of having been given both vaccinations in the UK are likely to be excused tests. 

Amanda Burns, chief executive of Visit Jersey, said: “We’re delighted with the announcement about the easing of travel restrictions from 26 April.  Jersey offers a safe, wonderful holiday for so many who are looking for a destination they can escape to that’s close by. “

Blue Islands will step up flights between the UK and Jersey from opening day.

The airline’s chief executive, Rob Veron, said, “Today’s announcement is incredibly exciting. This is the news we have all been waiting for and provides assurance for consumers who are eager to travel.”

Arriving soon: aircraft at Jersey airport (Simon Calder)

From 26 April, Blue Islands will fly from Southampton, Exeter, Bristol and Birmingham to Jersey. Links from Newquay and East Midlands airports are expected to be established later in the summer. 

Only Birmingham and East Midlands are currently in the amber zone, with the remainder green.

British Airways, easyJet and Jet2 are expected to operate summer flights from the UK to Jersey.

A spokesperson for easyJet said: “We will look at the detail of the Jersey government’s announcement and what it means for our customers and we have kept our fleet in a flight-ready mode so we are ready and able to ramp up our services and fly as many customers as possible this summer.”