APD is a departure tax on flights leaving the UK or Isle of Man airports, which will rise to more than £100 per person in economy class from April.
‘Many people don’t realise that UK Air Passenger Duty is one of the highest departure taxes in the world,’ said Philip Saunders, chief commercial officer at Aurigny.
‘Those charges are set to rise again next year, especially for long-haul flights, and they can add a significant amount to the total cost of a trip from the UK to mainland Europe and further afield. As Guernsey’s airline, we want to ensure our community is in a position to make informed choices when choosing onward connections. Considering alternatives like Dublin or Paris or using our interline agreements can offer significant savings.’
APD can also be avoided by using Aurigny’s interline agreements with Emirates and British Airways where flights originate in the island.
Aurigny said its fares rose by 3% less than the rate of inflation in Guernsey for the financial year ending 2024, and said it had seen growing interest in the French and Irish hubs as UK departure tax rates continue to climb.
So far this year, traffic from Guernsey to Dublin is up 6%, while the Paris route has grown by more than 30%.
Passenger duty in Paris is between £26 and £40, while Ireland scrapped its air travel tax back in 2014.
Between both Paris and Dublin, Aurigny operates five flights each week to the major hub airports, with middle of the day departures timed for smooth onward connections to global destinations.
Paris Charles de Gaulle connects to more than 300 destinations worldwide.
Dublin serves over 190 destinations across 40 countries, with strong links to North America and a USA immigration pre-clearance offering. By comparison, Heathrow and Gatwick each serve just over 200 destinations.
The Channel Islands remain classified as a Band A destination by the UK government, meaning the UK Treasury collects £7 more in APD for each passenger travelling to Guernsey compared to those on domestic UK routes.
In the 2024/2025 financial year, the UK Government reported £4.19 billion in APD receipts – a 9% increase year-on-year.
New Aurigny ticket desk at Guernsey Airport
Aurigny, meanwhile, has created a ticket desk at Guernsey Airport.
The airline said that this would mean any passengers with ticket issues or needing support would no longer need to queue for the check-in desk between 9am and 5pm. This can cause congestion during peak times.
The new desk is located centrally in the terminal, away from the check-in area.
‘As Guernsey’s airline, we’re proud to provide a dedicated space where customers can receive personal, attentive service. The new desk allows our team to offer the support passengers need – it’s all about making the journey smoother for our community,’ said Guernsey station manager Mickey Champion.
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