Alderney reeling after P&R's shock £5 hike in air fares

Anger is such that its States has contacted the UK Ministry of Justice.

The Policy & Resources Committee yesterday announced it was taking immediate measures to address an expected £600,000 overspend on the £2m. public service obligation subsidy Alderney receives every year.

With immediate effect, all Alderney fares are being increased by £5 each way, and from January the target subsidy will be reduced to £1.5m. with a further £25-£30 rise in one-way fares.

P&R has suggested the Alderney-Guernsey route is 'protected' to benefit Bailiwick taxpayers so the Southampton service is expected to be hit harder.

The northern isle reacted with horror at the announcement. Its politicians said they learned of the move only on Tuesday evening.

Policy & Finance Committee chairman Nigel Vooght requested a meeting with P&R as a matter of urgency. Yesterday he was still awaiting a response.

‘We are disappointed that this announcement has been made without prior discussion, constructive collaboration or due assessment of the impact it is likely to have on our economy, which is already constrained by high air fares and disrupted connectivity,’ he said.

‘If our economy suffers further as a result of this reduction, so does the Bailiwick’s, as the taxes we pay to Guernsey will decline.’

The effect of the fare increases would raise Alderney-Southampton return air fares by about £90, taking the cost of flex return flights close to £450.

Alderney representative Alex Snowdon was also very concerned.

‘It’s devastating and in my view shocking that Policy & Resources have announced such major increases for Alderney routes, potentially an extra £90 from Alderney to Southampton,’ he said.

‘To my knowledge, there was no consultation with the States of Alderney, and I understand that the Ministry of Justice has been written to with high concerns about the impact on the community, business sector and the future of Alderney.

‘There have been no impact assessments of these major increases to Alderney fares and I am strongly concerned that this will have an impact on the community.

‘I feel this is a knee-jerk reaction from P&R due to the failed budget of 2025 and 2026, and we have now austerity measures coming in.’

Alderney Chamber of Commerce chairman Andrew Eggleston said that concerns about the cost of flights had already been on islanders’ minds.

‘This will have an adverse effect for people who have relocated or retired here and have family in the UK. They have been talking about the increasing costs to get to the UK for a few years, so it’s possible that now these people will go back to the UK,’ he said.

‘It’s just 70 miles between here and the south coast, which just makes it even worse.

‘It was about mid-morning when we found out. I find it all amazing as it’s not going to help our economy and we’re going to shrink.

‘We don’t want to become more of a financial burden on Guernsey, we already feel like we’re in the corner even though our tax money goes into the Bailiwick.’

• Before yesterday’s £5 hike, the starting price for one-way flights between Guernsey and Alderney were £53.49.