Aurigny hopes new jet will put airline into profit

AURIGNY'S new jet will help the taxpayer-owned airline get back into profit by 2015, its chief financial officer has predicted.

Peter O'Donovan said being the sole operator – from April when Flybe pulls out of the lifeline Guernsey-Gatwick route – would greatly improve Aurigny's financial position. The airline lost about £1.3m. last year, although the final figures are still to be audited.

'It should return us to profitability. 2014 will be a difficult year and we would not expect to turn a profit then.

'But in 2015 we expect a marked improvement, not a large profit but all our projections are showing we will be in the black.'

A day after it was announced Aurigny had decided to buy a 122-seater Embraer E195 regional jet, interim chief executive Mark Darby said it was the right decision for the island.