Alderney runway work 'must be done next summer'

‘I can’t over-emphasise the risk to connectivity to that island is at through a runway that’s at the end of its life,’ he said.

If the Assembly was ‘foolish enough’ to turn down the works currently approved, STSB would have to renegotiate with the successful tenderer for work on a lesser scope.

‘But we simply cannot wait any longer. It would be dangerous.’

Deputy Roffey’s comments came during answers to an emergency question asked by Alderney representative Alex Snowdon in the wake of the disruption last weekend, when Aurigny was unable to provide any flights to the island.

Deputy Roffey said that five companies had put in bids that he said were worthy of going to the full tender process which will begin next week.

But Deputy Lyndon Trott asked if it was ‘right and proper’ for this process to continue before capital priorities had been decided.

Deputy Roffey said that STSB had consulted with Policy & Resources.

As for last weekend’s problems, Deputy Roffey said that while one of the two Dorniers which served Alderney was on scheduled maintenance, the other developed a technical problem with a propeller.

Aurigny had tried unsuccessful to charter in replacement aircraft and about two-thirds of affected passengers took up the airline’s alternative option of travelling by boat.

During 2022 only 1% of Aurigny’s flights had been cancelled for technical reasons, he added.

While a third Dornier could be a solution, the cost of this redundant capacity to the States could not be justified, he said.

Greater resilience would be provided by removing the island’s reliance on a bespoke type of aircraft and the extension of the airport’s runway would enable Aurigny to operate a fleet of ATRs which would give it better ability to bring in another aircraft if there was a problem.