Aurigny could buy more Gatwick slots if needed

AURIGNY could buy more Gatwick slots if it needed to, Treasury and Resources has said.

Flybe yesterday confirmed it was in talks to sell off its valuable hub slots.

Treasury responded by saying Aurigny could, if the market required, purchase more slots or fly bigger planes to ensure the island continued to be well serviced to the London airport.

A spokesman confirmed the States-owned airline had recently increased the number of daily Gatwick slots from four to six, with increased aircraft capacity on the route.

'Aurigny's market share on the service is higher than Flybe's. Both the department and Aurigny remain absolutely committed to ensuring that sufficient capacity is available on the route to meet the needs of the market, either alongside other carriers or as a sole operator,' the spokesman said.