GUERNSEY’S deteriorating runway has cost the island its jet link with the capital.
Flybe will withdraw its BAe 146 from the Gatwick route at the end of October and replace it with the smaller-capacity turboprop Dash Q400. Flybe general manager, market development Ian Taylor said the decision was regrettable but unavoidable.
‘We have no option,’ he said. ‘More than two years ago we told the States that we would be withdrawing the 146 from service and the only one left in our fleet is the one currently operating between Guernsey and Gatwick,’ he said.
Flybe had wanted to introduce its latest 118-seater Embraer 195 aircraft on to the route but this was ruled out by current weight restrictions on the runway at Guernsey Airport.
The 146 was originally due to be withdrawn from service in April but the date was later put back.
The 146 has 112 seats and currently operates four return trips per day. The Dash Q400 carries 78 passengers and Flybe plans to do five trips in winter and six in summer. This will result in a daily capacity reduction of more than 100 seats.
‘There’s also a time thing as many people want to travel at certain times and the 146 enables us to take 112 people out at 7am daily for example,’ he said. ‘It’s bound to have an impact on the tourist industry.’
Occupancy on the ‘red eye’ was very good and there would be many times in future when demand would outstrip supply and this could in turn raise issues for people making connecting flights, he said.
The 146 was not fuel efficient compared to its modern counterparts, he said.
Technology had moved on and customer expectation was higher.
‘We have explored several options to maintain a jet service but we’ve been unable to provide a resolution to the issue.’
It was too early to say whether operating a smaller aircraft on the route more frequently would make travel dearer.
‘We will always offer value-for-money fares on all our routes and we haven’t even considered the price implications, yet,’ said Mr Taylor.
The Embraer is operating to and from Jersey where Mr Taylor said it had been well received.
Guernsey needed to make a decision on what it was doing with its runway, he said.
Upgrading was essential but it was a question of when.
‘We are told about the “shopping basket” of things that will be offered but it needs to go to the States yet and how long is all this going to take?’ he said.
The situation was disappointing and frustrating but not all gloom and doom, he said. Guernsey would still have links to Charles de Gaulle Airport and Norwich throughout the winter.
Article posted on 4th July, 2008 - 2.29pm
.gif&contenttype=gif "Sula Gallery")
14 Article Comments
What excellent news!
Noisy jets should never have been allowed over such a populated area anyway - and don’t even think of taking up what little is left of the Island’s space for even longer runways.
Go back to only short landing/take off turboprops both for peace and perhaps even to return some airport space to agriculture.
NB the “speed” of jets was always irrelevant compared with the much longer times wasted in terminals and queuing for take off at airports such as Gatwick.
Report abuse
SO Flybe are blaming the runway in order to change the 146 Jets, they always blame someone. Not so slow in charging massive prices for everything. Low cost - only when it suits!
Report abuse
Interesting comment from P Nicolle given the recent article and comments about tourism in Guernsey. Maybe you could only allow gliders into your airport and sailing ships into your harbour and lead a totally peacefull life devoid of all those horrible tourists eh?
(I doubt the 146 is any noisier than turboprops anyway as it has turbofan engines and was originally marketed as the “whisperjet”)
Report abuse
How about if they consider buying aircrafts that can be operated on the routes they fly?
Report abuse
P.Nicolle, what are you talking about Noisy Jets?
The 146 is the quietest jet in the world. Get your facts right! The turbo prop will be noiser.
Report abuse
It really is time for the bosses at Flybe to get back to their grass roots. Have they forgotten already about those of us from Guernsey who have made no small contribution to making them what they are today?
As a regular traveller for many years on Flybe and its forerunner JEA, I feel that the incredibly fast expansion has only given their passengers a headache..and a few too many unpleasant experiences.
Yes its true that the cost of flying to the mainland did come down. Remarkably so. But the ridiculous concept of extra charges has soured what could have been a real success. Not even the smug editorial column in their magazine will convince me otherwise…I don’t want ‘Reward Points’, only good old fashioned service with a genuine smile.
When given the choice, I fly with Aurigny now. But Joey be warned..take a lesson from this and don’t ever bite the hand that feeds you.
Report abuse
It is very short sighted of the States of Guernsey not to upgrade the runway.
Guernsey has a major finance industry and should be served by appropriate transport ie jet aircraft, which in this day & age is expected by the business traveller and is particularly necessary in winter when the weather can be terrible and flights on turbo prop aircraft uncomfortable. I think the absence of the jet will put people off coming to Guernsey and could lead to Flybe withdrawing their service. Then we would all be at the mercy of Aurigny’s dated and unprofessional service. The last time I flew with Aurigny to Stansted the pilot announced that ‘we would be at Manchester airport in one hour’s time’, at which point I wanted to get off!
Report abuse
P Nicolle …The Embraer 195 that flybe propose to bring to Guernsey is quieter than all the turboprops..But especially quieter than the noisiest aircraft to grace the island the Trislander!! I find it amazing that this aircraft the loudest of them all is subject to the least Preferential Noise Routing restrictions for arrival and departure from the island…
Oh and Lorraine Allen….
When as a pilot you are flying six flights a day from Guernsey every day of the week it is very easy to forget where you are from time to time pilots are only human…
Report abuse
I share Lorraine Allens view regarding props bumping around in heavy weather. At present if I am flying to Gatwick I would choose Flybe over Aurigny due to the current 146 equipment used. Aurigny - maybe you should consider using a suitable jet aircraft for your Gatwick route once flybe finally withdraws theirs. I am sure you will then capture the Gatwick market and the travelling public will favour your airline to this destination.
Report abuse
Perhaps P Nicolle should go and live in the Southern Pacific somewhere, in a cave. The Island needs 737s & Airbuses, propeller planes really put us back into the dark ages…
Report abuse
Mark,
Can you think of a suitable fuel efficient Jet Aurigny could afford that they could replace the ATR with on the GCI-LGW route?? BAE are withdrawing all support for the 146 over the next couple of years.
Andy,
The island does not have enough passengers to warrant the use of larger 150 seat aircraft they will be flying around half full losing huge amounts of money. No airline could sustain this…Ryanair and Easyjet only make money by flying around with a very high load factor..couple that with the increasing cost of oil it would all end in tears
Report abuse
P.S.
Whilst i agree what you say about the comfort of the Jet service
The turboprops burn approximately half the fuel of the 146 while carrying 2 thirds of the pax…average GCI-LGW flight time on the flybe Q400 30-35 mins (virtually the same as the 146) and the Aurigny ATRs are approx 45-50 mins They are both very efficient and if you want a long term reliable and dependable service in the current financial climate this will be the only way forward..Until the states allow the flybe Embraer 195 into the island!!!
Report abuse
ingridlines,
The Q-400 may well be a similar in duration but you will sat on the tarmac for longer at Gatwick as jets usually get priority over props as they are much faster departing and reaching their initial given flight level.
Also i don’t think it’s a states issue whether to allow the EM 195 into the island, it’s down to the remedial work on the runway. I am sure it is still Flybe’s intention to us this aircraft type once the work has been carried out and they are satisfied our runway can take the weight of their plane. However this may be a year or 2 away.
Report abuse
Mark,
The Q400 has exactly the same departing speed as all Jet aircraft departing LGW it can climb at 245kts as opposed to the much slower ATR of Aurigny ..The q400 suffers no delays departing due to it being a turboprop. it also outclimbs the 146 too.
Departures from LGW are in order according to the time the aircraft calls for Taxy clearance. The aircraft from GCI seem to spend a long time at the westerly holding departure point because it is a short taxy from the parking stands they use as opposed to the longer taxy times from North terminal etc….
Report abuse