Guernsey's Airline Aurigny Apologies Over Service Quality

Customers have endured delays and cancellations over the past week due to aircraft going 'tech' - others out on planned maintenance - and fog.

Aurigny has suffered multiple delays and cancellations over the past week, which has prompted it to write a letter of apology to affected customers on its website:

The airline blames taking two aircraft out on planned maintenance and then suffering tech issues with its jet, coupled with fog disruption.

It leased in an Airbus last week to cover the Gatwick route but it says there were crewing issues with its leased Eastern Airways ATR.

Alderney has been operated with a single Dornier for some time, leaving the service vulnerable. Island FM asked the airline about this nearly two weeks ago, but has not received a reply.

In its letter to customers, Aurigny warns its service in March will continue to be 'fragile'.

It does say that it kept the airport open last week to get flights in, but that affects finances. Although both entities are States owned, Aurigny has to pay for extending airport hours.

The situation worries the Guernsey Hospitality Association, which has more than 100 members, including hotels and restaurants; its president is Alan Sillett:

"Confidence is fragile. Especially looking at the serious problems they've got now and we're only a couple of months away and off we go with the summer season."

"There don't appear to be enough planes to cope with the demand at the moment, and we're in the low season."

"You also have to ask why is Aurigny flying off to Grenoble and soon Porto? Those flights mean that the plane has to be taken out for the whole day, meaning more pressure on the rest of the fleet to cope with regular flights."

Aurigny begins its new twice weekly Paris service at the beginning of April. It has said this, along with other new or revived routes, increase connectivity for Guernsey.