Coates makes it personal

ANY hopes that Aurigny and Blue Islands could work together in the future were crushed yesterday as Derek Coates labelled the States-owned airline incompetent and devious.

The fallout from Treasury's decision to back out of the proposed sale got personal yesterday with Blue Islands chairman Mr Coates showing his frustration by lashing out at Aurigny.

When asked if he would consider revisiting the 'plan B' alternative to a straight takeover - namely both airlines working together to make efficiencies - that he put on the table and then subsequently withdrew, Mr Coates said: 'I cannot see us working with the current Aurigny because I believe they are incompetent and they have been devious and I cannot see them being people I would want to sit down to dinner with.'

But Aurigny managing director Malcolm Hart, who was gagged by Treasury throughout the negotiations, refused to be drawn into a war of words with his rival.