No confidence in Guernsey airlinks, survey finds

GHA president Alan Sillett said the current airlink model had "a lack of real proper strategy"

A survey of the hospitality sector has found the industry lacks confidence in the island's airlinks.

More than 90% of those responding to the Guernsey Hospitality's Association's (GHA) annual survey did not believe the current airlink model could help provide meaningful growth.

The association is now calling on the States of Guernsey to make changes while the economic development committee reviews air connectivity.

The States of Guernsey has been approached for comment.

Guernsey's States owned airline Aurigny has had issues with regular delays and disruption to flights during 2024.

GHA president Alan Sillett said: "There are three committees that are involved in the oversight of our airlinks and there needs to be a change because there is a lack of accountability.

"There is a lack of a real proper strategy. When the strategy from government leads is really 'protect Aurigny' – that is no strategy so there needs to be a real change."

Hannah Beacom, head of the Guernsey Tourism Management Board, added that Aurigny CEO Nico Bezuidenhout had apologised to the industry.

"He admitted that their communications could have been better and I think we've seen improvement in that direction, but we as the trade now have to work to repair the damage done because there's no point pointing fingers", she said.

"We know it's a lack of parts, they have not been able to get their aircraft serviced, they've been let down by aircraft they have chartered in.

"They now have a full fleet, they are ready for next season so we need to send the message out loud and clear that we are open, we are ready and we have a reliable operator."