'Airport needs to be more commercial to stem losses'

Guernsey Harbour turned a profit last year, but Guernsey Airport lost more than £5m., which caused the Ports to make a loss.

It follows a controversial hike in mooring fees at the harbour last year and a further review of ports fees is expected this year.

Guernsey Aviation Action Group member Joe Mooney, a former States member and a tourism lead on the Economic Development Committee, said that his personal view was that there should be greater commercialisation at the airport.

He said that more money would be made if Aurigny was not being excused fees on its new routes.

Its recent launch of a route to London City Airport was subject to this.

‘It’s an understood policy that if someone flies on a route that has not been operated for six months, they save on the fees,’ he said.

For the second year of operation, there is a 75% saving for the airline, 50% on the third year and back to full fees the following one, he said.

He believed that London City was gaining popularity at the expense of Gatwick, and so recent flight figures showed travellers relatively stable between the island and London.

‘It’s not a genuine saving,’ said Mr Mooney.

He also believed that private aircraft owners were being hit by the rising price of fuel as well as increased handling and landing fees, with the latter rising this year by between about 13.5% and 56%, depending on the permissible take-off weight and the distance of the plane’s final destination.

Down at the harbour, there are still worries that mooring fees might see further rises in the coming years.

‘The increase in mooring fees was between 20% and 30% depending on the size of your boat,’ said Guernsey Boatowners Association president Nick Guillemette.

‘And I think the indication was that the States Trading Supervisory Board would do likewise in 2025 and 2026, regardless of the cost of living.’

The GBA had warned that boatowners would sell up rather than pay the increased fees and Mr Guillemette said he knew of several small boat owners who were going to do that.

But the applications for moorings had reportedly increased and he believed this was a sign that in future only wealthy boat owners would be able to afford the moorings.

‘We’ve always said that the money made by the harbours was being used elsewhere, at the airport, and I think that’s been borne out by these accounts.’

Guernsey Airport fees have been rising in recent years. UK flights have seen charges go up from £10.57 per metric tonne to £12 in the last year – a ATR-72 has a maximum take-off weight of 23 tonnes.

Passenger fees for inter-island travel doubled from £1.03 to £2.01 in the last year, while UK travellers are charged £2.63 – up from £2.26. Security fees per passenger have also gone up from £2.75 to £3.20. Passengers are also charged a £1 airport development charge.

When airlines need to land outside the normal hours – usually meaning after 9pm when flights have been delayed – there is also a hefty charge. Arriving just 14 minutes after the airport is due to shut costs £782 per aircraft – up from £665 last year.

Charges rise the later it gets, so landing at between 10.30pm and 11pm costs £2,265 per aircraft. Even parking charges in the airport car park have been increasing and drivers now only get 30 minutes for free.