'Longer runway would give positive signals about island'
LENGTHENING the runway would send out positive signals about Guernsey's economy, the new Economic Development president said yesterday.
Peter Ferbrache, who holds responsibility for air and sea links in his portfolio, also said he thought that Aurigny should be renamed with Guernsey in its title.
Deputy Ferbrache said he believed the States had made a mistake in not lengthening the runway when it was upgraded over a period of nearly two years to the end of 2013.
'It was a false economy, it was silly, and it will undoubtedly cost more now,' he said.
'We should be doing it as soon as practicable – I'm not saying it's an instant thing.
'It would allow us to attract other carriers, though they'll never do the day-to-day routes – that's not how they make their money.
'But it would show the world at large that we are here, with new routes, extra runway length, to show that Guernsey is open for business.'
Deputy Ferbrache, who was addressing an Institute of Directors lunch, added that he would rename Aurigny in due course.
