Oxford Airport will get its first ‘scheduled’ charter flights this summer when C.I. Travel Group launches Saturday flights to Jersey from 11 July through to September 12 this year. C. I. Travel is the first travel company to offer regular seasonal flights from Oxford.

The flights will be operated by Plymouth, UK-based Air Southwest using Bombardier Dash 8-300 50-seat turboprop aircraft with seat only prices from £150 return, inclusive of all handling and baggage fees. Flights depart Oxford at 1520, arriving Jersey at 1630. Jersey-Oxford flights commence from 18th July at 1345, arriving Oxford at 1455.

The route will be the first direct link will appeal to residents in Oxfordshire, the South Midlands and the north-western Home Counties.  Some five million people live within an hour’s drive from the airport, which is close to the M40, A34, A40 and A44 road networks. Seat only and inclusive holidays are being sold exclusively by C. I. Travel Group’s well-established consumer brands including Discover Jersey and Channel Islands Travel Service. Its Airways Holidays brand is sold through local independent travel agents. The route will also be marketed to hoteliers in Jersey who may wish to offer their Oxfordshire-based clients a direct flight to the Island. “With many more UK holidaymakers deserting the Euro-zone in favour of a holiday closer to home, we believe that this exciting new route will prove to be popular with both new and existing clients in the Oxford area,” commented Robert Mackenzie, Managing Director of Jersey-based C. I. Travel Group.

Deputy CEO of Air Southwest Mike Coombes added: “We are delighted to co-operate with C.I. Travel and operate these flights to Oxford Airport. I’m sure the services will be very popular. We are very pleased to welcome these new regular charter flights this summer which will operate from our newly built oxfordjet business aviation terminal,” said Oxford Airport Managing Director Steve Jones. “With our 1,319m (4,327ft) runway and new ILS, Oxford Airport is ideally sized for niche, charter operations and we very much look forward to welcoming C.I. Travel Group and this exciting new link to Jersey.” He added that with the airport’s location - just over an hour’s drive away from the west end of London, Oxford now represents a very convenient, easy access alternative to the established London airport choices.

Welcoming the announcement, David de Carteret, Director of Jersey Tourism, added: “C. I. Travel Group’s initiative adds yet another route to the network to the Island. We look forward to working together to secure a successful first year of operation.”