Regular disruption in the so-called ‘Black Swan’ year of 2024, particularly for Aurigny, saw almost 8,000 hours of overtime worked by staff at the airport, including the firefighters, which cost the taxpayer more than £330,000.
The airfield’s standard operating hours are 6.30am to 9pm every day. The final arrival of the day is scheduled to come in from Gatwick at 8.50pm.
Airlines are charged a fee by the airport when the runway needs to stay open beyond its usual night time close down, on a sliding scale up to midnight. Costs range between £1,853 and £5,722 per aircraft movement.
Guernsey Ports airport director Richard Thomasson said that as a UK certified aerodrome, Guernsey Airport must meet strict regulatory standards, which include emergency planning, fire and rescue response times, and minimum staffing levels.
‘We recently reviewed existing operational arrangements for colleagues working within the Airport Fire and Rescue Service,’ he said.
‘This was done in consultation with staff representatives and Unite the Union. A number of changes were subsequently implemented, which ensure that shift patterns and other working arrangements best align with the operational requirements of the airport.
‘These changes have been implemented at no additional cost to Guernsey Ports and should result in efficiency improvements, better staff retention and work-life balance.’
Mr Thomasson would not outline the exact details of the new contractual arrangements for individual staff or staff groups as they were considered confidential between the employee and employer, but it is understood that there are now more shifts worked by the airport fire crew and a standard shift now finishes later, so that if planes are late no overtime is accrued.