The executive board of the Guernsey Hospitality Association said the demise of Blue Islands highlighted the importance of reliable air connectivity, which it believes requires more than one local airline.
In a statement, it said that if the States were to conclude that Aurigny alone was the solution, the island would face ‘serious challenges’ and would be left ‘as vulnerable as we were in 2024’.
‘What we must not allow is a monopoly where Aurigny attempts to manage 100% of our air links,’ it said.
‘If that were to happen, the airline would require additional aircraft, crew, administrative staff, ticketing teams, and maintenance resources. Costs would inevitably rise, reliance on a single operator would increase, and our resilience would remain in question.’
It stated that though Aurigny could continue to operate Jersey and Southampton routes, there was now an opportunity to develop a new air links model with Aurigny at the core and partnering with one or two large-scale branded carriers.
‘These partnerships would enhance resilience, deliver real passenger growth, and significantly expand Guernsey’s marketing reach.’
The GHA praised Aurigny’s long history on local routes and recent actions to keep islanders flying, and said it would remain a key part of any future framework.
‘But Aurigny simply cannot manage all UK routes – plus destinations such as Dublin, Paris, Ibiza, Malaga, Porto, and ski resorts. Collaboration with major airlines that have the scale, fleet capacity, and brand strength to support sustainable growth must be a strategic priority.
‘We recognise the considerable responsibility now placed on deputies tasked with air connectivity and extend our support as they develop a plan that meets the needs of our residents, our business community, and our visitor economy.’
Tourism Management Board chairwoman Hannah Beacom said it was grateful for the recent work carried out by Guernsey Ports and the States, and also credited Aurigny for its response.
‘I’ve been particularly impressed that our local island carrier has risen to the challenge and worked hard to get everyone home,’ she said.
‘There is of course more work to be done, and I hope that there can be a swift resolution to the new uncertainty surrounding our connectivity, especially with regard to our key Southampton and Jersey routes.’
The Economic Development Committee met over the weekend and has been engaged in decisions to protect lifeline services, while it is still expected to announce a tie-up with a national airline to operate a Heathrow service any day.
Its political lead on tourism, Deputy Lee Van Katwyk, said his thoughts were with staff and islanders affected by the closure.
‘The committee and officers have been working throughout the weekend to bring about the best possible outcome for the Bailiwick,’ he said.
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