‘Week after week the service is not delivering for visitors or for locals,’ Andrew Sells from Visit Isles of Scilly told BBC Radio Cornwall yesterday.
‘Scilly is a tourism-based economy, and honestly we need a better service. A lot of people are arriving at airports, or getting calls just a few hours before, telling them that their plans are changed. The day visitors have been largely cancelled.'
Mr Sells said that to locals it appeared that Skybus was giving preference to Alderney over Scilly.
His criticism was echoed by the tourism lead on the Isles of Scilly Council, Robert Francis.
‘The current level of performance at the start of this tourist season undermines the ability to retain and attract new visitors. Both the community and businesses on Scilly have also raised serious concerns,’ he said.
In a statement, sent to Radio Cornwall, Skybus rejected any claims of favouring the services it provides for Aurigny, saying the issues were actually down to a delay in two newly-acquired Twin Otter aircraft entering service.
The airline also claimed that its arrangement with Aurigny would ultimately lead to a more robust service for Scilly.
Criticism of Aurigny and Skybus’s Alderney services also ramped up this week following cancellation of two round trips on Monday, and delays on Tuesday after a medevac service in the middle of the day.
Yesterday the first two flights to Alderney took off on time but there were delays in the return of the second flight to Guernsey which carried on through the rest of the day.
Alderney States member Steve Roberts, who worked for Aurigny at the island's airport, has maintained that the Twin Otter aircraft, also incorporating the island’s medevac service, were not up to the job of servicing the island.
‘Our sick cannot access urgent medical care, our tourists are either disrupted or unable to visit, and business confidence is at an all-time low. Alderney is in crisis, as this is becoming an everyday experience. Disruption or no service at all is fast becoming the norm. Our reputation is suffering and it’s time for Alderney to help itself.’
Mr Roberts wants the island’s Policy & Finance Committee to instigate an independent review of the island’s air connections, with input from all local stakeholders.
Aurigny was contacted for comment.