Aurigny apologises as it drops UK flights in June
Aurigny is cancelling most Liverpool, East Midlands and Exeter flights throughout June, but has pledged that its network would be back on track by 5 July – in time for the start of the school holidays.
The airline has faced a raft of issues since the start of the year, including overrunning servicing, a plane overshooting the runway, the jet suffering catastrophic corrosion and the ATRs facing a quality control issue.
The shortage of aircraft left passengers constantly concerned about whether their flight would run to time, or run at all.
But yesterday bosses announced they would bring certainty to the situation and were changing the schedule, so passengers would know where they stood.
Watch: Aurigny CEO Nico Bezuidenhout
The service is being ‘rationalised’ between 1 June and 4 July, with booked passengers now being contacted if they are affected.
Aurigny chairman Kevin George said the airline knew how important it was to get schedules track and was working to hit its July target.
‘The schools start breaking up on 5 July, so we have got to get it done by then,’ he said.
Aurigny’s CEO Nico Bezuidenhout said that on most days Exeter and Bristol flights will be combined, while East Midlands passengers will be transferred onto Birmingham flights.
One of the airline’s newest routes – Liverpool – will have passengers moved on to Manchester or Leeds Bradford services.
Overall 96 flights will be consolidated over the month.
Passengers will then need to take public transport to reach their eventual airport, with Aurigny reimbursing the cost of this travel.
Liverpool, East Midlands and Exeter were among Aurigny’s quietest UK routes last month.
And while the sale of the jet has been preliminarily agreed – and it is expected to go next month – there are more options on the horizon.
New wet lease capacity on a 34-seater SAAB 340 Turboprop will be introduced in June, along with the first of two long-term wet lease ATRs. Aurigny’s ATR G-ORAI is also set to finally return at the start of June after months in Dinard awaiting servicing.
However, G-OATR will then need to go for servicing, as ATRs built after 2016 are needing work after an issue with aluminium parts, although this does not affect safety.
Passengers moved to flights by less than three hours will be asked to accept changes.
Those moved by more than three hours or to a different airport will be able to change their flight for free or get a refund.
Both bosses apologised to islanders and travellers.
