'Unease' in hospitality sector over air disruption

Aurigny said the disruption was due to a number of its aircraft being out of service

Hospitality bosses in Guernsey are concerned over the resilience of local air links ahead of the summer season after technical problems caused a string of delays and cancellations, industry leaders say.

States-owned airline Aurigny said the disruption last week was due to a number of its aircraft being out of service.

The Guernsey Hospitality Association (GHA) said it was concerned the problems were a "taste of what is to come" in the peak summer tourist season.

Aurigny said two aircraft were in annual maintenance but two others had "unforeseen" technical problems.

Industry 'uncertainty'

Alan Sillett, GHA president, said: "As an island, we rely heavily on our connectivity air and sea.

"While we are in the off-peak season at the moment, we are getting ready to start our tourist season.

"As an industry, we have worked hard at promoting our businesses and Guernsey as a destination.

"But at the moment we are very concerned if this past week is a taste of what is to come."

The airline last week said it leased an A320 jet from Heston Airlines due to problems with an ATR-72.

In January, Aurigny also leased an ATR-600 aircraft and crew from Eastern Airways.

Mr Sillett said disruption to air travel was causing "uncertainty and unease" in the hospitality industry.

He said: "The question we would pose is - if this is the situation in the low-season, what confidence can we have that such aircraft and crew will be available to lease in the high season?"

In a statement to passengers, Aurigny said it did not make cancellations "lightly".

It said extensions to the airport opening times were made to "maximise the number of flights available", as well as the use of leased aircraft.

It warned travellers that resilience would be "fragile" throughout March as planned maintenance to its fleet continued.