Considering the small number of ferries that go to Jersey and the fact that they only leave from ports on the south coast of England, flying to Jersey is definitely the most sensible option for the majority of travellers. Luckily for people wishing to take to the air, thanks to the balmy climate, pristine beaches and wonderful countryside, there are a large number of companies that fly to and from the island.

In fact, you can start your journey from most reasonably sized urban locale across the country; London (except Heathrow), Southampton, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Nottingham, Plymouth, Doncaster, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast (City and International Airports), Glasgow (International), Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Gloucester, Norwich, Aberdeen and Dundee. Though there are many similar sized cities that don't have flights leaving in the direction of Jersey, the large number that do - and their spread across the UK - means that you will never be too far away from an airport that services the route. There are even a couple of surprising departure destinations, such as Orkney, Castletown (on the Isle of Man) and Stornoaway.

The main operators of these routes are Flybe, BMI Baby, Easyjet, Air Southwest and British Airways. Flybe are the largest of the Jersey operators, flying to and from most of the airports on the above list. British Airways only fly from London Gatwick, Easyjet from Liverpool, whereas BMI Baby routes from Birmingham, Cardiff and Manchester. Air Southwest travels from Bristol, Oxford and Plymouth. Some other airlines also offer seasonal flights - Aer Arann and Aer Lingus conduct flights from Cork and Dublin respectively, Jet2.com from Belfast International, Leeds/Bradford and Blackpool. If you're interested in flying from one of the other Channel Islands, or flying between them during your visit, then Blue Islands is the company to look up.

As with all air travel, prices do vary significantly depending on demand, the location you want to travel from and fuel costs. Prices can be as cheap as £70 return (including tax), if you book in advance, shop around and are flexible on dates; that price for example is for a Flybe flight departing from Bristol in June. It can go as high as £500 return - and this is, of course, assuming you are flying economy.

When you arrive, you'll be landing at Jersey Airport, situated in the parish of St. Peter, 4.6 miles Northwest of St. Helier. It is a modern airport, having been extended in 1976, had a new terminal constructed in 1997, a new tower built in 2009 and its Departure Hall is in the process of being updated to provide passengers with better facilities. It has a passenger turnover of over 1.6 million people a year and has a very active general aviation population, which means that if you want to go for a flight over the islands, or even have a couple of flying lessons, it is very easy to arrange.

It is located, as with most things on Jersey, in a beautiful spot overlooking the sea - and it as easy on the nerves as the view is on the eyes, having been commended for having a very quick passenger turnover rate. As for getting to and from the airport, there are two car parks (with rates of 60p/hour for long term and 60p/half-hour for short term), a drop-off zone and free parking for motorcycles and bicycles. If you wish to hire a car, there are two car rental firms with offices at the airport (Europcar and Hertz) and a number of others nearby and a dedicated taxi rank (expect to pay about £12 for the journey into St. Helier). Lastly, there is a regular bus service (bus number 15) between Jersey Airport and Liberation Station in St Helier which travels via Red Houses and St Aubin's Village. The airport bus stop is situated directly in front of the Arrivals Hall exit and upon your return to the airport will drop you in front of the Departure Hall entrance.

Whilst waiting for your flight, there is a Starbucks, a bar, a newly refurbished restaurant and a number of shops to keep you entertained. There are also a number of lounges, a chapel, a medical office, a post office, smoking facilities and It is all fully accessible to disabled people. In case you're pondering whether or not to bring your laptop, there is also free wireless throughout the terminal. For full details of the airport, check out the Jersey Airport Website.