The subsidised daily air link run by Flybe, which began as a trial in March, has been given support from Economic Development’s Deputy Joe Mooney.
He said high numbers of people using the service meant there was justification.
‘I would like to see it continue,’ he said.
‘It has been a huge success, particularly for people going on transatlantic flights. The figures themselves showing how many people are travelling on the relatively new service shows it is doing quite well.’
Yearly figures show that Heathrow is the sixth most popular UK route for Guernsey Airport, with 22,383 passenger movements overall.
However, it started only in March, and in the most recent monthly figures of October it is the fourth most popular UK route in the month with 2,807 passenger movements, only superseded by Gatwick, Manchester and Southampton.
There had been concerns that it could hit Aurigny’s profit-making Gatwick operation.
Gatwick had 26,319 travellers in October, but overall the route is 16,000 travellers down on the year so far when compared with 2018. It was initially agreed Heathrow would be run for seven months, from the start of summer 2019. That was then extended through the winter, until the end of March 2020.
The route is currently heavily subsidised by the States, with £825,000 handed over for its initial seven-month test period.
It has been strongly supported by the local business community.
Flybe launched its summer schedule on 13 November with no news on Guernsey to Heathrow.
An Economic Development spokesman said: ‘Discussions are ongoing with Flybe/Virgin Connect to secure a continuation of the Heathrow service for the 2020 summer season.’
Deputy Mooney revealed that Virgin Connect was eager to see the route begin in Jersey after seeing the figures.
‘Jersey would most likely benefit from having a Heathrow route too,’ he said.
‘Virgin Connect appear to think it will work for Jersey and early indications from the airline show this.’
Fears have been expressed about the future of a Newquay to Heathrow link set up at the same time as Guernsey’s after it too did not appear on Flybe’s phase one summer schedule.
It is run under a public service obligation, jointly funded by a UK government and Cornwall Council initiative.
Deputy Mooney said that this was in no way linked to the Guernsey to Heathrow service because the services were set up differently.
‘Economic Development are now looking at its continuation for next year’s summer schedule,’ he added.
‘Then the next thing would be for Policy & Resources to look at funding and decide with a possible announcement in February.’
The service has provided Guernsey with a connection to London’s largest airport for the first time since 1998, when Air UK axed the route.
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