High demand for new route from Guernsey to Paris

The States is committed to supporting the route for a trial period of three years

Nearly 60% of seats on an airline's new route to Paris have been booked ahead of it launching in April, it has said.

Aurigny's route from Guernsey to Charles de Gaulle airport is due to operate on Fridays and Mondays.

Throughout the year it will offer seats to 15,000 passengers, reaching Paris in about 70 minutes, the airline said.

The States' Committee for Economic Development is providing the airline with £324,000 to support the route in its first year.

The States' support will be provided over a trial period of three years.

'Passenger demand'

The route's performance will be monitored during this period and funding provided based on the performance of the service.

The States has committed to contributing a maximum of £1.12m between April 2024 and March 2027.

Nico Bezuidenhout, chief executive officer at Aurigny, said: "The response from passengers to our Paris service has been very positive.

"As with the establishment of any new regular route, we anticipate that a full season of operations will give us a clear idea of passenger demand for the service. "