TAXPAYERS’ money is being used to subsidise airlines whether they want the extra cash or not.

Blue Islands chairman Derek Coates (pictured) said the blanket States policy of granting airlines a £1.05 concession for every passenger was an inefficient and inappropriate use of islanders’ cash that bordered on insanity.

He has decided to redirect his substantial share to local charity Les Bourgs Hospice.

‘If the government is willing to put money into a dustbin, I’m willing to take it out of the dustbin and put it to a worthwhile cause,’ he said.

He said he had been writing to States deputies, including former ministers Stuart Falla and Bill Bell, since 2005 about the issue.

The £1.05p per passenger concession, which used to be called route development funding, is awarded to airlines operating key routes excluding inter-island flights. But Mr Coates told the States he disagreed with the £800,000 system and did not want his airline to take part.

‘I believe that it is a complete waste of taxpayers’ money – I can see no benefit in it whatsoever,’ he said. ‘I don’t believe the subsidies will encourage new routes – it would be wrong for me to accept funds from the public purse if it would not be of benefit to our island.’