NO NEWS is good news. In theory.

But in practice, no news can often mean: there’s nothing good to say, so we’ll say nothing.

The problem with such an approach is that the vacuum is often filled with fear and suspicion. That is clearly the case with the airlines and the ongoing ‘non-dispute’ with the airport firefighters.

Having heard nothing since the temporary cessation to hostilities in February, the airlines are understandably anxious that the clock is ticking on the three-month agreement.

Should the island be back to square one in four weeks’ time, when the £750 sweetener deal expires, there is the very real prospect of flight chaos in the early months of the island’s tourist season.

Such an outcome is simply unacceptable. While Guernsey may be sheltered from the worst of the economic storm raging through economies throughout the world, it is far from immune. Many businesses are struggling and, in this environment, the added burden of repeated airport lockdowns could cost people their livelihoods.

Tourism, especially, would benefit from rapid news that this problem is going away. Given the weakness of sterling against the euro, this should be the year that the enfeebled second leg of the island’s economy finally starts to bear some real weight as Brits stay within sight of the pound and Continentals come in search of a bargain.

In that light, pre-summer headlines bouncing around the internet about airport chaos in Guernsey would be disastrous.

The States negotiating body, the Public Sector Remuneration Committee, the union and the firefighters know all this and, hopefully, feel under pressure to find a resolution.

Having jointly decided to channel all comment through a single body – the Industrial Relations Service – it is possible islanders and airlines will have to wait for a new deal to be signed and sealed before any indication of progress is forthcoming.

Given the brinkmanship which has characterised this non-dispute throughout, that could mean a nerve-racking wait of several more weeks for passengers, businessmen and airlines.