Flybe says States should help after runway let-down

By Nigel Baudains

FLYBE said yesterday that its decision to maintain a jet link on the Guernsey-Gatwick route this summer could cost the airline more than £1m. General manager market development Ian Taylor said that retaining the 112-seat BAe 146 jet raised several issues.

‘The biggest one is the massive increase in cost that we face,’ he said.

Fixed costs that were previously spread across 16 146s would now apply to only two retained specifically for servicing Guernsey.

The airline is phasing out its 146 fleet but the replacement Embraer 195 is unable to land fully laden in Guernsey because of the condition of the runway.

The 146 was due to be withdrawn from the Guernsey route in March but Mr Taylor yesterday confirmed the retention of two.

Flybe now planned to meet Public Services and Commerce and Employment to discuss costs.

‘If this situation arose at another airport, a commercial discussion would be taking place between the airport operators and the airline as to how it could be mitigated,’ he said.

‘We are not talking about payment or a sub but a commercial decision which is quite normal, though it’s a little more complicated in Guernsey as the airport is government-run.’

It was a question of gaining recognition of the failure to provide an adequate runway, he said.

Ticket prices would be part of a commercial discussion with the airport but he hoped a rise would not be necessary and said it was too early to speculate.

Flybe had been shocked when told shortly before Christmas that the Embraer could not operate here fully laden.

Using smaller aircraft such as the Dash Q400 was not an option.

‘We had to consider the effect that a massive reduction of capacity would have had on Guernsey.

‘But now we have to maintain two aircraft in the fleet which will only be servicing Guernsey,’ he said.

‘That is something that we have highlighted to the States.’

Flybe would be looking to have the spare 146 jet positioned in Guernsey as only locally based pilots would be able to fly it.

‘We realise that with the space limitations that Guernsey Airport has it is a poser and we have left it with the airport authority.’

One of the biggest issues for islanders was, he said, the condition of the runway at Guernsey Airport, the cost of putting it right and who would pay for it.

Mr Taylor said that now might be the right time for the States to consider selling Aurigny.