UK link fears spread

AURIGNY'S decision to reduce services between Alderney and Southampton is concerning many islanders.

Since I broke the story last week, I have been inundated with emails and telephone calls about the issue, which involves the airline cutting the number of Alderney-Southampton flights by 9% from November.

Not one person is supporting Aurigny's move - and many fear it could be the beginning of the end of direct services to the UK. The Guernsey Press has already reported the concerns of hoteliers and guest house owners, while States members are promising to look closely at the changes.

Alderney's Southampton service is often called a 'lifeline link' and that phrase is more telling now than ever before. The island is back to having one air carrier - Aurigny - after Blue Islands halted services earlier this year. What is more, it is the only direct link with the UK that Alderney has.

The people who have approached me in the wake of the news all agree that flying from Southampton is, more often than not, the easiest way of getting to Alderney. Passengers also tend to agree that taking more than one flight is inconvenient when there is a direct route. Flying unnecessarily in the Channel Islands also heightens the risk of getting stranded, possibly due to technical issues or fog (which is much more likely).

Aurigny's research apparently shows that people are travelling from all across the UK to fly from Southampton. But perhaps getting to the south coast and waiting for Joey is all part of the Alderney experience? People also have a loyalty to Alderney - they want to fly direct to the island and have nothing to do with Guernsey, or anywhere else.

I can see where Aurigny is coming from, even though I remain concerned about this latest development. I use the airline's Alderney-Manchester link regularly as I often spend time in Leeds - my home city - and the service is generally the most cost-effective and quickest way to travel between the island and the north of England. However, the link doesn't operate without its frustrations.

The major bugbear with the route comes during Aurigny's winter timetable.

Earlier this year, I often had to travel back from Manchester on a Monday morning at 9am. The flight gets you to Guernsey for 10.20am but there's then a five-hour wait to catch a connection to Alderney. To be frank, it isn't good enough for islanders, tourists or business people.

Thankfully, the summer timetable is much improved. On Tuesday, for example, I was back in Alderney before midday after taking off from Manchester at 9am.

So if Aurigny is to continue down the road of opening up different parts of the UK, it must get its Bailiwick house in order first.

It's no good trying to attract people from Manchester, the Midlands or London if they're going to be stuck in Guernsey for hours with the threat of fog and other problems.

And for the sake of everyone associated with Alderney, I hope Aurigny doesn't reduce the Southampton service ever again.