The States Trading Supervisory Board has quickly responded to Alderney’s Policy & Finance Committee, saying that the latest data has shown significantly improved performance since Twin Otter aircraft late last year.
The service was now more resilient, carrying more passengers during the same period last year, but during a period of significantly worse weather, it said.
‘The generalised criticism was disappointing given the data, which has already been provided to Alderney politicians, does not support the assertions made,’ said STSB president Mark Helyar.
‘The services going forward provide for two Twin Otter aircraft, additional resilience from the Skybus fleet, and further ability to call on an Islander aircraft for medevac if required.
‘By any reasonable measure this is a significantly more resilient strategy than relying on just two aircraft, of a single, rare aircraft type, for both passengers and medevac services, as was previously the case.’
Deputy Helyar said that Alderney should have written to Policy & Resources over its concerns about the public service obligation by which Guernsey taxpayers subsidise the Alderney route, describing the correspondence as ‘unfortunately misdirected’.
He did, however, ‘acknowledge and understand frustration in Alderney at the end of a long winter’ and said as shareholder, STSB would continue to review and challenge Aurigny’s performance levels.
