2021 Air Passenger numbers record a 61% increase on previous year

Almost 73,000 commercial air passengers travelled through Jersey Airport in December 2021, compared to just under 9,000 for the same period in 2020.

As a result, the total number of air passengers for 2021 was +61% higher than in 2020 with 670,693 recorded compared to 416,369 the previous year. Considering the continuing travel restrictions recorded, especially in the early part of the year, which impacted passenger numbers, Jersey's overall percentage load factors of 61% was better than initially expected in part due to a strong second half of the year where we averaged -39% less passengers than we did in 2019.

Figures also showed that summer Saturdays were our most active days of the week with large volumes of passengers and aircraft movements. Saturday 28 August 2021 was out busiest day when a total of 6,240 passengers arrived and departed from Jersey Airport. On the airfield, Saturday 11 September 2021 was the busiest day during the summer period with our air traffic control team handling 140 aircraft movements*, broken down to 66 commercial flights, 9 corporate flights and 65 general aviation.

In 2021 we did see the emergence of some positive travel trends, which we believe will continue in 2022. Ports of Jersey remains 'cautiously optimistic' in terms of expected air passenger numbers with Jersey being served by almost 30 departure points from across the British Isles and Europe with a mix of both scheduled and charter services. Following a 2-year absence due to the pandemic, the Island can once again look forward to the return of direct International connections over the summer with Germany and Ireland, including flights to Munich, Dusseldorf and Dublin.

A similar picture emerges for sea passengers with December 2021 recording 8,029 passengers compared to just 2,002 in 2020. Once again, the first six months of the year recorded low numbers due to ongoing travel restrictions, but the end of the year figures stand at a total of 146,570 compared to 86,917 the previous year, an increase of +69%.

Figures also showed that on the northern routes to Poole and Portsmouth during the months of August, September and October the number of passengers traveling to and from Jersey outperformed 2019 levels by 7,167- an equivalent of +18%.

In 2022, sea passengers can once again look forward to the reintroduction of Manche Ille inter-island services along with routes into nearby Normandy ports. With passenger restrictions being eased in France it is hoped that more people can take advantage of frequent services to/from St Malo with Condor Ferries and will see an upturn in overall passenger numbers across all sea routes.

* = This figures does not include locally based pilots doing multiple take offs and landings, usually for training purposes.