Guernsey Press

Air links ‘arteries that provide the lifeblood to our economy’

Paul Smith, chairman of the Guernsey Investment Fund Association, says good transport links are vital for the island’s prosperity

Published
Paul Smith of the GIFA.

AT A TIME when virtually everyone is agreed that transport links, and air links in particular, are the most important issue impacting the future prosperity of the island, it is a relief that the introduction of an ‘open skies’ policy managed to obtain approval from the States.

Despite all the scaremongering and thinly veiled threats that were issued by Aurigny and Blue Islands in the run-up to the debate, common sense prevailed.

Let us hope that this policy can be implemented quickly and that the airlines that we have been told are interested in serving Guernsey start do so sooner rather than later.

Whilst we do not (yet) have a party-political system in Guernsey, we currently have one of the most divided and dysfunctional States assemblies that we have seen for a long time.

Thankfully, on this occasion, many of them were able to put their petty rivalries and prejudices to one side and to focus on the good of the island and its people.

It is interesting to look at how the deputies voted on this policy letter.

There are certain deputies who on the one hand ask how they can be expected to make a decision without any supporting evidence and yet, when it suits, they are happy to wave something through with minimal evidence or checking.

We now find ourselves in the position where our own airline, which is owned by the States on our behalf, has put its shareholder in a position where the airline has signed a letter of intent to spend $60m. of our money on three new aircraft when this has not even been debated, let alone approved, by the States.

This is yet another ploy to use spurious statistics and exaggerated claims of the ability to reduce flight delays due to fog to strengthen Aurigny’s position by increasing the States’ financial commitment to the airline and thereby influence their decision-making when it comes to the question of extending the runway.

Surely it would be better to put that money towards extending the runway so that we can increase the number of airlines able to service Guernsey and we do not restrict ourselves to only being able to attract airlines with fleets similar to Aurigny and Blue Islands / Flybe.

That is what the people want – more choice, improved reliability and cheaper travel. If we are to protect and grow our economy, we need to have good, reliable and affordable air links.

These are the arteries that provide the lifeblood to our economy, but they also add to the quality of life in Guernsey by boosting our tourism industry, enabling friends and relatives to visit people living here and allow us to get off the island for holidays, short breaks, business and health reasons.

I fully understand and accept that there are many issues affecting Guernsey right now but if we do not protect our economy then none of these will be able to be dealt with.