The commencement of British Airways’ new Heathrow service marks a pivotal moment for Guernsey. With direct access to the UK’s premier global hub now secured, this is the right time to look at the entire London market and ensure our air links are structured to deliver choice, resilience and value for islanders.
Heathrow gives Guernsey something it has lacked for years – seamless global connectivity. However to complement that premium link, the island also needs a strong, affordable, high volume service into London’s second busiest airport. That is why involving easyJet at Gatwick is both logical and timely. Its scale, competitive fares and modern aircraft provide the capacity and price discipline that our island economy requires.
With BA covering global reach and easyJet delivering volume and affordability, Aurigny can focus on its essential role as a regional and lifeline carrier – serving Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, maintaining resilience and operating the critical routes to the UK and nearby French coast that commercial airlines will not sustain year round.
As Aurigny can continue to own and sublet its six Gatwick slots, at a significant profit, Guernsey will always be able to guarantee connectivity to London by reusing them when required.
This balanced three-pillar model – BA for global connectivity, easyJet for Gatwick capacity, Aurigny for lifeline services – offers Guernsey a sustainable, competitive and future-proof approach to air travel.
Peter Bachmann
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