AURIGNY Air Services’ celebration of 40 years’ unbroken service to the Bailiwick is a considerable milestone for a local business – and something approaching an epic story in the competitive and fast-changing world of aviation.
Few carriers can match that achievement and the local operator is now one of the oldest surviving in the world.
True, it has some way to catch up with the venerable, KLM, which was founded in 1919, but it has outlived that airline in the Channel Islands, since it pulled out of Guernsey in 1998 and triggered the loss of the lifeline link to Heathrow.
Aurigny is a Bailiwick institution and is rightly held in high regard for its commitment and service to passengers over that period. Like every business, it can make mistakes but its ethos of trying to get passengers back to Guernsey whatever the weather or technical difficulties has been appreciated by thousands over the years.
Perhaps the greatest accolade the airline could have came from rival Flybe on the day of its anniversary, for the degree of criticism levelled at Aurigny indicates that it provides competition that Flybe would really rather not face.
Its claim that public ownership of the local airline increases the cost of travel is also hard to accept. Yes, allowing a carrier to operate when and how it wishes might provide initially cheaper fares but at the expense of the regular, year-round services this island needs to cultivate.
Flybe’s performance on the Manchester route amply demonstrates the point and if its commitment really is to this island, it would serve that cause better by uniting with Aurigny and pressing for a speedy change in the way Guernsey airport is funded and operated.
There are many reasons why islanders have reason to be grateful for Flybe’s operations here. Nevertheless, it is an intensely commercial company and has to put its own interests first.
Where Aurigny can claim to be the people’s airline is not so much in being owned by the States as in controlling the Gatwick slots with the taxpayers’ hand on the tiller.
Something to celebrate
AURIGNY Air Services’ celebration of 40 years’ unbroken service to the Bailiwick is a considerable milestone for a local business – and something approaching an epic story in the competitive and fast-changing world of aviation.
Few carriers can match that achievement and the local operator is now one of the oldest surviving in the world.
True, it has some way to catch up with the venerable, KLM, which was founded in 1919, but it has outlived that airline in the Channel Islands, since it pulled out of Guernsey in 1998 and triggered the loss of the lifeline link to Heathrow.
Aurigny is a Bailiwick institution and is rightly held in high regard for its commitment and service to passengers over that period. Like every business, it can make mistakes but its ethos of trying to get passengers back to Guernsey whatever the weather or technical difficulties has been appreciated by thousands over the years.
Perhaps the greatest accolade the airline could have came from rival Flybe on the day of its anniversary, for the degree of criticism levelled at Aurigny indicates that it provides competition that Flybe would really rather not face.
Its claim that public ownership of the local airline increases the cost of travel is also hard to accept. Yes, allowing a carrier to operate when and how it wishes might provide initially cheaper fares but at the expense of the regular, year-round services this island needs to cultivate.
Flybe’s performance on the Manchester route amply demonstrates the point and if its commitment really is to this island, it would serve that cause better by uniting with Aurigny and pressing for a speedy change in the way Guernsey airport is funded and operated.
There are many reasons why islanders have reason to be grateful for Flybe’s operations here. Nevertheless, it is an intensely commercial company and has to put its own interests first.
Where Aurigny can claim to be the people’s airline is not so much in being owned by the States as in controlling the Gatwick slots with the taxpayers’ hand on the tiller.
That really is worth celebrating.
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