Grounded by bureaucracy: Blue Islands MD criticises Guernsey's licence regime

GUERNSEY'S licensing regime is the biggest obstacle for airlines looking to establish new routes, Blue Islands has said.

Managing director Rob Veron, pictured, said the system, which he claimed could take up to six months to reach an outcome, was costly, time consuming and meant airlines had no commercial secrecy.

'It's been said Guernsey would like to see a direct flight from Guernsey to London City Airport,' he said.

'The danger is we'd spend £6m. on securing aircraft slots in London on the chance that in six months' time we will get a licence. If the time came and we didn't have the licence, London would say "tough, it's not our fault if you're not using the slots".'

He added Guernsey was an exception in its lack of 'open skies'.

• The Commerce and Employment Department was not immediately available to comment.