A PROPOSED CI-Paris air link has fallen through because Jersey will not pay its share. Flybe said Jersey had been the stumbling block on a possible triangular link between the islands and Charles de Gaulle Airport.
It is understood the Jersey authorities were unwilling to give the same backing as Guernsey after reportedly being asked for subsidies amounting to more than £1m. over two years.
The airline said yesterday that it was to start talks with the States about a Guernsey-only route.
‘We are very positive about where the States of Guernsey has come from on this, but are disappointed that a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a service to one of Europe’s largest hub airports has been missed for no apparent reason,’ said Flybe chief commercial officer Mike Rutter.
‘No blame can be levelled at the States of Guernsey for this. The amount requested jointly in the initial subsidy from both islands was only 40% of the amount that was being asked for in Exeter and Norwich for routes to Charles de Gaulle in the last 18 months, but that small amount was still too high for Jersey.’
Deputy Commerce and Employment minister Carla McNulty Bauer said: ‘It was disappointing that Jersey failed to reach an agreement.
‘However, we remain committed to gaining new and direct routes from the island and we will continue to work with the airlines for that to happen. Discussions with Flybe are currently ongoing.’
The department had identified Paris as one of three key European hubs. For the first time, it was prepared to offer thousands in taxpayers’ money to the airline to establish the route.
It is proposed that similar arrangements would apply for Dublin and Zurich links when the States seeks operators next year.
Economic development minister Alan Maclean said Jersey was now in discussion with another airline interested in operating a Paris service, after he felt the Flybe offer was not value for money.
He said the Flybe proposals had been rejected because the airline was not prepared to guarantee continuity beyond the two-year subsidy period.
‘Experience shows most new routes take at least three years to become established,’ he said.
He added that after several requests the department had received Flybe’s financial estimates for Paris only two weeks ago.
‘This gave little opportunity for detailed economic evaluation. However, we said we would respond by last Friday. We met that deadline by making a counter proposal based on agreed joint marketing support for the service, substantially reduced aeronautical charges and an incentive package rewarding Flybe for delivering inbound passengers.’
He said that this generous performance-related package had demonstrated a desire to help the route succeed. ‘We have not received the courtesy of any official response to our offer,’ said Deputy Maclean.
Mr Rutter added: ‘Flybe has been delighted with the support of the Guernsey States, but with regard to our new discussions, it’s still early stages. I was confident as well about the Paris link and look what happened, so we will have to wait and see.’
Article posted on 27th September, 2006 - 12.00am
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