Aurigny critics question expansion of routes as review terms published
An independent review into problems at Aurigny will address whether the airline's network and fleet provides the necessary levels of reliability and resilience expected, and whether the fleet transition plan implemented this year has been sufficiently robust.
The States’ Trading Supervisory Board has published the terms of reference for the review, and the connections with its shareholder objectives and the island’s air policy framework.
But critics of the airline have asked if a review was actually the best way forward when, they said, action was needed now.
Alan Sillett, president of the Guernsey Hospitality Association, said it appeared that there was already evidence that the transition plan had failed.
‘The inquiry is all well and good, but at the moment we have too much uncertainty, and need action now,’ he said.
‘We urge our government leaders to bring some certainty and confidence back into our air travel connectivity as soon as possible.
‘The damage to our reputation and our economy cannot continue.’
He said that many people including the GHA’s executive board, had questioned the expansion of routes this year.
‘I would be surprised if the airline’s management say they believe the route expansion plan for this year was a good one.’
As part of thee fleet transition, Aurigny is switching to operate with five ATR aircraft, either owned or on long leases, the last of which should be in operation by October.
Mr Sillett asked if Aurigny had become over reliant on wet-leases, and whether there was any connection with a run of technical issues and incidents.
‘In this year alone Aurigny have wet-leased numerous aircraft and crew from different airlines such as Eastern Airways, Jump Air, Titan, Luxwing, Avantiair, and now Swiftair,’ he said.
‘Is the regular wet-leasing of all these different aircraft and crew, stabilising, reducing, or increasing the risk factor for air travel in and out of Guernsey?’
No timetable has been yet published for the review to begin or be completed but STSB president Peter Roffey said that once the review was started, it could take place within a few weeks.
Financier Mort Mirghavameddin, who was formerly chief executive of Trust Corporation International and has been an outspoken critic of the airline’s current management, asked why a review was needed at all.
‘Why can’t the board look at these things themselves?’ he said.
‘Why do you need a third party to tell you that you have overstretched your fleet? If they can’t analyse their own resilience they are a poor board.’
Mr Mirghavameddin said it was also misleading to say the ATRs that would become permanent members of Aurigny’s fleet were actually new.
‘One is 14 years old and one is 10, they are not new planes,’ he said.
‘They don’t have the fog-busting tech that is needed for this island.’
