Guernsey Press

States always finds cash for costly airline

THE STATES decides that £66m. is too much to spend on rebuilding La Mare de Carteret school. Yet, in less than the blink of an eye, it happily underwrites a $60m. (£47,308,200) loan for three new ATRs that Aurigny wants to purchase.

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I must admit that this would make total sense if Aurigny was making an average £5m. a year gross profit, but it’s not.

In fact, it’s doing the exact opposite. Every single year since the States purchased the airline, the island has been bailing it out to a tune of an average £5m. per year. Despite multiple promises, nothing has changed. If Aurigny wants planes with a low maintenance cost, they should have bought the new fleet of Trislanders. No, they couldn’t do that, for no reason other than the CEO doesn’t like Trislanders.

Now Aurigny wants to replace the planes with which they replaced the Trislanders with three ATR fog-busters. How many years did the Trislanders serve the island? The three ATRs are going to cost $60m. and come with promises of £4.1m. savings through lower maintenance costs over the next 10 years. Plus rock bottom airfares, larger overhead cabin space and what about the loan – when will that be paid off?

I wonder, will it be during the life of the planes or will Aurigny end up costing the island even more money because the island is underwriting the loan? Yes, one other thing, Aurigny might need a new jet for the Gatwick route on top of the three new ATRs. The reason: because they are not fast enough for the route.

Look on the positive side, the ATRs will be able to fly far more frequently in foggy conditions. A bonus for the many passengers who have over the years experienced the airport when fogbound.

Funny isn’t it, how the States can continue to pour money into a non-profitable company, but they couldn’t spend a few extra on building a much-needed school for the benefit of the island.

I ask myself, are there any educated people in the States, are there any that have any business experience? Because they certainly don’t appear to have amassed any sense between them. As for the States as a whole, when it comes to money, I dread to go down that road.

Ask yourselves, who are the States of Guernsey serving, because it certainly doesn’t seem to be the people.

JOHN DE CARTERET

17 Delancey Court,

Rue Des Monts,

St Sampson’s,

GY2 4HX.

Editor’s footnote: Policy & Resources declined to comment.