THE tourist industry and rival airlines have hailed as a positive step Healthspan’s investment in Rockhopper. VisitGuernsey chief executive Stuart Pinnell said that he was ‘absolutely delighted’ at the news.

He said that it would provide specifically-tailored routes for Healthspan clientele – it has more than two million customers in the UK – who would stay in the company’s hotels and boost the visitor economy.

Flybe general manager market development Ian Taylor said that it had no monopoly for Rockhopper to challenge.

‘We are often mistakenly attacked for being a monopoly but we do not have a monopoly. Guernsey has a States-owned airline therefore we cannot be,’ he said.

He said that any airline could apply to the licensing body in Guernsey – probably the only jurisdiction with such an authority.

‘Flybe would like to introduce inter-island flights but is unable to do so.’

Aurigny managing director Malcolm Hart said that the coming together of Rockhopper and Healthspan marked a major change in the marketplace.

‘The days of Rockhopper as the little new boy on the block have now passed and with the power and capital of a major brand, from Aurigny’s point of view, everyone is now on a much more equal footing.’

Mr Pinnell said that he was pleased that Rockhopper was using smaller regional airports.

‘Also Healthspan clients will not be filling up seats on the scheduled routes of the other two airlines and therefore the additional demand should not have an impact on the prices of travel for other visitors to the islands,’ he said.

‘This will make Guernsey all the more accessible to people in the areas around these airports. I’m very positive about Healthspan projects. It’s an excellent opportunity for the islands.’

Competition was very good for markets, said Mr Taylor.

‘We can only see that Rockhopper, a relatively young company, provides a very positive addition to local aviation and we hope that will continue. We wish it well with its planned expansion and its intention to bring new passengers to the island will be a great benefit to the island.’

Mr Hart said that Aurigny had been having collaborative discussions with Healthspan for some time and he looked forward to those continuing.

‘This move [the investment] may well mark an important development for the islands’ transport links and could open up plenty of opportunities for the whole community, including Aurigny and the Bailiwick’s visitor economy in general. More visitors making more visits has to be good news for Guernsey and Alderney.’