Call for change amid Guernsey airline disruption

Mort Mirghavameddin believes flight disruption has damaged the island's business and tourism communities

A business leader has called for change and expressed his "profound frustration" with Guernsey airline Aurigny after a series of cancellations and delays disrupted services since Thursday.

Mort Mirghavameddin, the chief relationship officer at financial group Rulewise, questioned the States-owned airline's "capacity to maintain essential routes".

He said disruption had affected both business and tourism.

Deputy Peter Roffey said he understood the concerns raised and was working with Aurigny. The airline said it understood the importance of maintaining Guernsey and Alderney’s reputation.

'Held accountable'

Mr Mirghavameddin described his concerns on social media and on BBC Radio Guernsey after days of disruption which included a delayed flight that had to return to its destination on Sunday.

He said the airline's service, pricing, and routes had all been a "disaster".

"I have very little faith in the States doing anything.

He added that the airline's CEO Nico Bezuidenhout and board of directors needed to be "held accountable".

'Inadequate'

Mr Roffey said the airline's performance had been "inadequate" and not up to "what the people of Guernsey should expect".

He said: "It has impacted on all of us and all of our families and it has to be rectified as soon as it possibly can be.

"Aurigny has to make sure that it has the capacity to deliver the network and the programme they are selling".

He said the airline needed to increase their fleet of reliable aircraft and review their schedule if it could not be maintained.

'Unfounded'

A spokesperson for Aurigny said they understood the importance of maintaining Guernsey and Alderney’s reputation for travellers and the tourism industry.

They said: “The claim that Aurigny does not prioritise lifeline routes is unfounded."

Aurigny said the disruptions, which included adverse weather, maintenance issues, bird strikes and crew sickness "would have occurred regardless of management".

"If a flight is unable to land and is diverted, there is inevitably a knock-on impact on the following day’s flying as both crew and aircraft need to be repositioned to Guernsey before it commences the next day’s programme."

It said its "small customer services team are constantly working on improving communications".

It added: "Despite the challenges, we remain confident in our airline, its staff and management and look forward to having a fully operational fleet in the coming months".