Spending millions on longer runway is ‘too big a risk'

He said that, as well as putting the island’s connectivity with Gatwick Airport under threat, it would also impact seriously on Aurigny’s operations.

While it was estimated that an extension could have a £130m. benefit on the island’s economy, he said that would be over a 40-year period, with benefits unlikely before about year 12.

He was opening debate on his committee’s proposal to put an extension on hold for now and wait for the States’ Trading Supervisory Board to consider it again when the runway is due to be resurfaced in several years’ time.

Responding to claims that a longer runway would encourage low-cost carriers to the island, Deputy Inder said that a single plane ‘with a sticker on the side’ was not a low-cost carrier, and the chances were that the operator would want to station its crew in the UK, which would restrict day returns from the island.

He claimed that such a carrier was likely to want to operate to Gatwick. Even though Aurigny might still retain the slots and lease them, if another airline decided not to use its leased slot the airport authorities could decide to take them away from the island completely.

Economic Development member Simon Vermeulen laid an amendment which proposed going ahead with an extension in the current States term using technology known as EMAS to keep the longer facility within the existing airport boundary.

Deputy Vermeulen and other supporters of extension have claimed the work could be carried out for about £20m.

Deputy Inder challenged such assertions and claimed the cost would be closer to £80m. if the runway was strengthened as well, which he said would be needed to prevent restrictions on aircraft frequency and loading.

Alone among members of Economic Development, Deputy Vermeulen wants to see the runway lengthened to 1,632m.

‘We have been given a gift,’ he said.

He asserted that the previously divisive issue of whether to extend the boundaries of the airport was a problem that had been overcome by the development of EMAS, which was designed to stop aircraft that have overshot a runway.

Deputy Vermeulen brushed aside concerns about the strength of the runway, saying it would be sufficient to accommodate large aircraft because they would not need to carry full fuel loads for journeys to and from Guernsey.

He quoted from a recent survey in which 89% of Guernsey Hospitality Association members said their businesses would be enhanced by the island having a longer runway and that many would consider expansion.

Debate continues today.