Business group recommends merger of airlines

Aurigny has been criticised following recent disruption

The Guernsey Chamber of Commerce has recommended a merger between two Channel Island airlines in a bid to improve the reliability of air links.

Director of the chamber James Ede-Golightly suggested merging Aurigny and Blue Islands to create a "regional airline with resilience and scale centred on the islands".

Guernsey's States has launched a review costing £65,000 looking at States-owned airline Aurigny's fleet and decision making, following recent disruption.

On the recent disruption, Mr Ede-Golightly said "something needs to change, the status quo isn't supporting our community and businesses as needed".

In response to the suggestion, Blue Islands said: "In August 2021 Blue Islands and Aurigny commenced a codeshare partnership on the Guernsey-Southampton route, integrating systems and capacity whilst preserving competition in the market.

"Furthermore, Aurigny is also Blue Islands' appointed ground handling agent for all flight operations at Guernsey Airport."

Its chief executive Rob Veron added: "We enjoy a strong working relationship with Nico [Bezuidenhout] and the team at Aurigny, working together on our Southampton codeshare and ground handling, plus supporting each other where possible with ACMI cover, parts supply and other areas where we can make a positive difference."

Aurigny has been contacted for comment.

The suggested move would merge the two main airlines serving the Channel Islands

Another recommendation to improve efficiency at Guernsey Airport suggested by Mr Ede-Golightly was to merge the airport firefighters with the Guernsey Fire and Rescue Service based at the Arsenal.

He labelled the availability of staff at the airport fire station as a "point of vulnerability" and "pooling the management and staffing of the two fire services may improve resilience and deliver efficiencies".

It follows criticism in August of a situation which saw a flight turn around and return to its destination 800ft (244m) from Guernsey's runway.

The States' Trading Supervisory Board and Committee for Home Affairs have been contacted for comment.

Changes to Guernsey's current air policy framework have also been recommended by the chamber, as the Committee for Economic Development is currently reviewing the policy, using external experts costing £45,000.

The chamber's executive has recommended the creation of a "focus group" to look at what the new framework should do as part of the current review.

'Extend the runway'

The chamber has also renewed calls to extend Guernsey's runway using a new technology already in use at London City Airport called an engineered materials arrestor system (EMAS).

Guernsey Airport's runway is currently 1,463m (4800ft) long.

Mr Ede-Golightly claimed "EMAS will enable larger craft to operate out of Guernsey airport" and criticised the current length of the runway.

"Its retention today places a real restriction on which planes and operators can service the island," he said.

An attempt to extend the runway last year by Deputy Simon Vermeulen was defeated in the States.

President of Policy and Resources Deputy Lyndon Trott argued the option of extending the runway should remain on the table, if money can be found in the budget for new infrastructure in 2025.

A renewed attempt to look at introducing EMAS technology could still come to the States this term.