Aurigny has worked alongside Guernsey Ports for the airport to remain open until 10.30pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays during the summer to allow later evening arrivals from London Gatwick, Manchester and Southampton.
The longer operating day will make better use of aircraft, crews and ground services, as well as of the existing investment in Guernsey Airport’s infrastructure.
The airport opening time of 6.30am will remain the same.
‘These planned operating hour extensions will help ensure Guernsey Airport continues to provide the resilience and flexibility needed to support scheduled services,’ said Guernsey Ports airport director Richard Thomasson.
‘Guernsey Airport already frequently remains open beyond its published operating hours to accommodate flight delays and recover from disruption, particularly during periods of adverse weather.
‘Formalising extended operating hours on four days each week during the summer season will provide greater certainty for passengers by giving Aurigny more flexibility when delays occur and supporting a more efficient operation overall.’
He said that the move should give passengers greater confidence that flights can recover from disruption and support the air links that islanders depend on. It should also be good news for Aurigny, which is charged thousands on a sliding scale, depending on how late it runs, per aircraft on days of disruption.
‘Working closely with Aurigny, we have developed a practical solution that supports the island’s connectivity needs while recognising the impact on colleagues,’ said Mr Thomasson.
‘We remain committed to continuing our engagement with our employees and trade unions as these plans are finalised.’
Aurigny will operate nearly 7,100 flights in summer 2027 with five ATR72-600 aircraft, a productivity improvement of around 15% which will help to lower costs and fares.
The schedule also provides a dedicated standby aircraft throughout the summer, giving Aurigny the highest standby-to-operating-aircraft ratio of any UK airline.
The standby cover is an additional cost, but is essential given the remote nature of island operations and often adverse weather conditions.
Aurigny chief commercial officer Philip Saunders said the schedule had been built to keep Guernsey well-connected, while other regional airlines were cutting routes.
‘We at Aurigny have protected the links that matter most to islanders, visitors and people travelling for medical care,’ he said.
‘By working smarter with our aircraft, crews and airport partners, we will operate 97% of this year’s flights with one fewer aircraft. At the same time, we are giving customers longer day returns, and more built-in resilience to keep people on the move, even when things don’t go quite to plan.
‘Coming off the busiest summer in our history, we are confident this programme will sustain that momentum while keeping costs under control.’
Guernsey Hospitality Association president Alan Sillett said the GHA welcomed the extension of the airport’s opening hours during the summer season.
‘For an island destination, having the flexibility to operate later flights on key days of the week is important, both for residents and for our visitor economy,’ he said.
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