Neil Inder has dropped the idea of a motion asking the States to force the resignation of the airline’s chairman and other directors.
He said during last year’s general election campaign that he would force the issue if re-elected to the Assembly, either by securing the presidency of the States Trading Supervisory Board, or leading a requete to direct the STSB to use its powers as shareholder to appoint replacement directors of Aurigny.
But the make-up of the new Assembly, which he said had ‘a very different flavour’, and discussions since then with STSB president Mark Helyar, who he described as ‘a good appointment’, have persuaded Deputy Inder against a requete.
‘I spoke to Deputy Helyar about my concerns. Those conversations were confidential. He did, however, assure me that he had a conversation with Aurigny’s board and that he expected improvement,’ said Deputy Inder.
‘That largely set aside the question on whether a requete would be necessary, along with the fact there was little or no interest from members in the matter.’
Services to Alderney have faced problems in recent months, but generally Aurigny’s performance has improved since a series of so-called ‘black swan’ events in 2024, when passengers faced months of unprecedented disruption and poor customer service, which Deputy Inder called ‘self-inflicted’ by the airline. It recorded a £6.5m. loss that year.
Towards the end of 2025, it returned to breaking even financially each month. However, chief executive Nico Bezuidenhout has voiced fears of a £4-5m. annual hit to income once the States-backed British Airways service to Heathrow starts later this month, and has warned that figure could double if a mooted link to Luton is also subsidised by taxpayers.
Deputy Inder was among the STSB’s fiercest critics in the previous political term and he accused it of failing to hold Aurigny to account. At that time, he was Economic Development president and faced criticism himself from the Guernsey Hospitality Association, which felt he could have applied more pressure to improve the island’s air links.
He said yesterday it would have been ‘futile’ to challenge for the presidency of the STSB at the start of the current term, after holding onto his seat in the States by a margin of fewer than 250 votes.
He hoped the current STSB would do more to ‘keep a tight rein’ on the airline’s leadership, and said he was cautiously optimistic of improvement, based on recent events.
‘The failures of last term were based on decisions made by the chief executive and I’m of the view that poor performance should not go unchallenged, or indeed be rewarded,’ he said.
‘On the matter as to whether Aurigny’s performance has improved, let’s face it, it was a fairly low place to come back from.
‘I’ve seen a couple of changes which encourage me. There seems to be a change in Aurigny’s marketing activity – it seems more present and active. And seeing the chief executive in Alderney addressing a hostile protest was a point where I nearly felt sorry for him.’
Mr Bezuidenhout and chief finance officer Roger Pratt are the only executives on Aurigny’s board.
Kevin George receives about £15,000 a year for chairing Aurigny’s board and the company’s other non-executive directors each earn about £12,000 annually.
Former STSB president Peter Roffey was frequently left to speak publicly about operational problems, and Deputy Inder said he wanted to see the company’s board members taking more of the flak when the airline’s performance fell short of expectations.
‘These operational boards don’t mind taking the position and the pay, but rarely do you see them fronting issues when things are going bad,’ he said.
‘If I’d advise Deputy Helyar of anything it would be to wheel them out in front of the media next time. It’s what they are paid for. If they don’t want to, then get another job.’