States-owned airline should be tailored to needs of islanders
MANY thanks for Richard Hemans' letter dated 9 June highlighting his Aurigny experiences. Aurigny is owned by the States of Guernsey and the airline does take its directions from them. Did the States of Guernsey realise that their own airline would be so dictatorial in their pricing structure so as to make it impossible to fly from the island at short notice without feeling financially exploited. The people of Guernsey, living on an island, have only two options – to leave using commercial transport: fly or sail.
In their pricing structure, how many of these airlines are using a pricing model based on a small island with a very limited population base of 60,000 people? How many small islands are independent and are included in their 'pricing model across the industry'?
It appears to me that if you want to leave the island you must plan your life a minimum of at least one or two months in advance.
Well, in the real world, it doesn't happen that way.
Aurigny, with the States of Guernsey, have killed off any impulsive decision that a family or private person would like to make. (Unless you are well off.)
Aurigny do offer special discounts, but that is when they want you to go, not when I want to go. If you lived on the UK mainland you have the flexibility of other modes of transport: car, train or bus. Over here we haven't.
I think that the people of Guernsey deserve a transport system that should be tailored for the Guernsey families. To be able to leave the island whenever they want, without having to book so far in advance.
Locally, buses (subsidised), taxis, Herm boats and Sark boats have fixed published rates; we know how much it will cost before we book.
Aurigny is a small regional airline but it is trying to be run as a major airline with their complicated booking systems.
Have you attempted to ask the people of Guernsey what type of airline and price structure they would like?
There used to be regular and frequent Aurigny flights between the islands (always full). It was possible to visit Jersey on a regular basis throughout the year: birthdays, sporting occasions, the zoo or even a lads' stag night.
Unfortunately, due to Aurigny's pricing model we can no longer justify the expense.
I have not been to Jersey for many years.
Aurigny have removed any form of impromptu or spontaneous actions when trying to fly off the island, without being penalised by exorbitant and unreasonable charges.
The list of links that they now offer is commendable, but we are still only 60,000 people, and they do not address the enormous and expensive cost of getting off the island.
Like Richard Hemans stated in his letter, not only was it very expensive but the plane was only half full. I wonder how many of those people were passengers on a pleasure visit?
Are Aurigny using half-full planes as their financial model, if so, why? We have half-full planes and poor availability, not much of a service is it?
Maybe Deputy David Jones or the people of Guernsey can shake things up.
JIM ENGLISH,
Address withheld.
