Back in profit in two to three years' time - Aurigny MD

AURIGNY will be back in profit within two or three years, its managing director has pledged.

Malcolm Hart (pictured) assured islanders that the States-owned airline would soon reap the benefits of its investment in three new routes over the last couple of years.

After announcing it was pulling out of the deal to sell Aurigny to Blue Islands, Treasury and Resources minister Charles Parkinson warned that the States was not prepared to bankroll a loss-making airline and that he fully expected Mr Hart and Aurigny's board to return it to profitability.

But Blue Islands chairman Derek Coates suggested Aurigny was a financial 'basket case'. And he said the rejection of his takeover proposal would see taxpayers writing a 'blank cheque' to prop up the loss-making airline.

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