Alderney States member 'hits back' at Aurigny

The requete has been signed by four States members and will go before members at next week's Alderney States Meeting asking them to approve a vote of no confidence in the current management of Aurigny.

The requete claims that the current management's 'neglect' had led to a reduced number of flights, a reduced number of aircraft and price increases to 'high, unaffordable' levels. 'The management has failed, damaged the economy and is placing lives at risk through lack of cover on a daily basis,' it said.

Aurigny chief executive Mark Darby responded at length, calling the requete 'an unwarranted attack on Aurigny's staff and management, particularly those that live and work for us in Alderney'.

He drew attention to the airline's 'unblemished safety record' and said weather caused more delays and cancellations than technical failures at a ratio of 3:1.

Aurigny, he said, was not 'wholly responsible' for the fortunes of Alderney's economy – in fact, it provided good local jobs in Alderney.

Steve Roberts, who worked at Aurigny for 25 years, said the claim that his requete was an attack on staff 'was disgraceful'. 'I have friends at all levels, at all stations, of some 25 years or more,' he said.

'They like us all have suffered, to continue their great work, vital to the island, in the light of the consistent failings to provide serviceable aircraft, picking up the pieces time after time, working late into the evening on so many occasions.

'We at the States have the utmost respect for them all and I call on the CEO to reread the requete, retract the remark and apologise to all his staff, on the grounds that it is completely irrelevant in any such way.'