Only three flights made it into the island on Saturday, and a total of 25 flights were cancelled on Sunday.
Airline and airport staff worked late into Sunday evening, trying to catch up and ensure that all four of its ATRs returned to Guernsey.
The final aircraft arrived before 6am yesterday, leaving all of the planes ready to operate Monday’s schedule as planned.
‘Aurigny fully respected its mission as the airline for the people of Guernsey and for getting people home however challenging the circumstances,’ said a spokesman.
‘As a matter of policy, many UK and European-based airlines with a solely commercial scope would simply opt to cancel services and offer customers the option of a refund or rebooking on the first available service, quite possibly several days later.
‘This winter will long be remembered for its extreme weather events, including severe storms, and now fog,’ said the spokesman.
‘Throughout this period and despite unprecedented meteorological challenges, Aurigny has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our communities to provide safe services by air and maintain connectivity with the UK mainland.’
The airline and airport was particularly busy at the end of the half-term holidays.
‘The weather situation remained very difficult throughout with occasional gaps in the fog, and significant improvement only coming late on Sunday.
‘This resulted in rolling delays, and some challenges in communicating definitive solutions as early as the airline would have hoped to,’ the spokesman added.
The Aurigny ATR 72-600 and Skybus Twin Otter fleets were all available for service, and the airline also made use of an Airbus 320 that it was leased from Titan Airways.
Ferry sailings were organised for nearly 450 passengers from Poole to Guernsey, in place of flights from London Gatwick and London City.
College ski trip returns but luggage left behind in Jersey
Local students were among those stranded in Grenoble for an extra night this weekend, and some had to leave their luggage behind in order to make it home, as severe fog triggered aircraft weight restrictions.
A wet-leased Titan Airways Airbus played a major role on Sunday in rescuing passengers at risk of getting stuck in the French city at the end of their half-term getaways, including the members of two Elizabeth College ski trips.
The flight had been cancelled on Saturday.
However, there were weight restrictions on the use of the aircraft.
And when, as is being reported by some passengers, a request for some 20 passengers to stay behind was rejected, there was no option but for the jet to fly to Jersey and offload all luggage before heading to Guernsey.
‘We’re pleased to confirm that all students and staff had returned to Guernsey safely by Sunday evening,’ said Will Hansen, he assistant principal at Elizabeth College, who oversees all of the school trips.
‘While a small amount of luggage has yet to arrive back on island, affecting 33 members of the trip, we understand that Aurigny is working hard to reunite students and staff with their belongings as quickly as possible and will be returning all items directly to the college.
‘We’re grateful to the airline for the support provided, including arranging accommodation and putting alternative travel plans in place promptly to ensure everyone’s safe return.’
Aurigny said its decision to offload the excess luggage had enabled all passengers to get back to Guernsey before Monday’s return to school.
