Aircraft proposals unveiled in Alderney

The proposition involves setting up an on-island company to work alongside Aurigny, which would continue to operate the lifeline Southampton route with Dornier 228s.

Mrs Paris has circulated an outline of the proposal to fellow States members.

She said the plan was conceived to provide more flights and match connecting services, with the airline controlled, owned and managed on Alderney.

She has recommended, subject to a proper study, the purchase of four or five used twin engine, eight-seater Britten Norman BN2 Islanders – piston engined as they handle short distances better.

She thought they would cost around £400,000 each. They are readily available, she said, and continue to be manufactured.

Mrs Paris says they could also provide medevacs, flights to France and Jersey and carry the island's freight, newspapers and post.

'I am suggesting that this operation should be in co-operation with Aurigny and tailored to meet their business plans by routing more Alderney traffic through their Guernsey hub,' she writes in the proposal.

'At the same time, it is essential that the economic lifeline to Southampton is maintained and any agreement with the States of Guernsey must have this proviso. In this way the Dorniers will still be used on the longer Southampton flights for which they are much better suited.'