Blue Islands offers to fly locals for less if it can compete
Thursday 10th February 2011, 2:29PM GMT.
BLUE ISLANDS has promised low fares for locals in return for being allowed to compete with Aurigny on the Alderney-Southampton route.
The Healthspan-owned company has submitted a licence application for the link, which is currently Alderney’s only direct route to the UK.
General manager Rob Veron (pictured) said competition would also improve Alderney’s struggling economy.
‘The key to unlocking tourism in Alderney is the accessibility issue. Competition brings increased capacity and lower fares – we have proven this on the Alderney-Guernsey route and on the rest of our Southampton services.
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At least BI don’t charge me £8.00 for using a debit card. It only costs Aurigny 35p per transaction and it is disingenuous of the MD to suggest otherwise.
He did suggest the fee also covered the cost of running their web booking system but one does not go into a shop and pay the price marked on the goods plus an extra fee at the till to cover the cost of running the checkout.
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How many more times are Mr.Coates and his Blue Islands Airlines going to “have a go” at Aurigny ?!!? .
The deal to purchase Aurigny was rejected by the islanders Of Alderney and fell through with The States Of Guernsey. This latest “idea” smacks well if I can’t have Aurigny then no one will. I will just do my best destroy Aurigny !!.
Alderney to Southampton simply CANNOT sustain two airlines.
YES, it is very expensive to fly from Alderney to Southampton and Southampton to Alderney but, it is a DIRECT flight to the UK and Aurigny should be protected flying this route. I would absolutely love lower fares to and from Southampton and I am certainly not going to deny that. But…….. do you remember the reason Aurigny pulled out of the Alderney to Jersey route . I do……. Blue Islands were allowed to compete and the route couldn’t sustain two airlines so Aurigny pulled out. Then Blue Islands a few months done the line stopped flying to direct Jersey — RIP Jersey Direct Flights.
Blue Islands were going to also offer Cherbourg flights for day trips – this have never flown and are now be re-mooted as a sweetner to us all. The Health Span call centre employed a few locals but, that closed down too !! Brighton flights – route dropped. Bournemouth flights – route dropped.
Aurigny have the proven track record, Aurigny have Alderney roots, employ local staff, Alderney based pilots, Aurigny try their hardest to get you home and never cancel flights on a whim. And no, before you all ask I do not work for Aurigny !!
Let’s hope the Alderney States members just say a firm “NO” Mr.Coates !!.But, also remember their manners and thank him for inviting them all to a free lunch at his hotel in Alderney whilst he schmoozed them with his plans !!
Let Blue Islands help Alderney by flying from somewhere else in the UK or perhaps just use their given routes of Bournemouth and Brighton again .Even if it is only seasonal say May to Sept. Mr.Coates please dazzle us with new ideas not taking somebody elses or buy some property on the island and re-invent that.
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Much as I applaud the idea, it will only marginalise Aurigny’s profits on the route making them less likely to continue it. This means that if/when Blue Islands pulls out (which it inevitably will do one day), there may be no other airline on the route, leaving Alderney unconnected.
Wish they’d just fly to another south-coastal airport such as Exeter – however I do appreciate that they already fly from Guernsey and Jersey to Southampton and therefore would benefit from economies of scale… the same goes for Bournemouth unfortunately.
Blue Islands must learn that they should not tread on the metaphorical toes of other airlines. It all goes back to the question of whether there really is space for three main airlines in the Baliwick.
It could be argued that by offering lower fares, they are in effect bribing the populations of the islands into letting them onto the routes.
As long as there are no assurances on how much cheaper the fares would be or for how long they would remain at these rates, I believe that allowing Blue Islands onto the Alderney – Southampton route is not a good idea.
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But why should Aurigny be given priority on the route in the first place? Surely in the normal world market forces dictate and therefore both airlines should be given a chance, Aurigny operate what 3/4 times a day to Southampton, so there is easily capacity there for both Airlines. I believe the Southampton route carries almost as many passengers as the Guernsey-Alderney route and if that route can sustain two carriers so can Southampton.
With a little promotion and help from Coates the marketing “wizz-kid” who’s to say that Aurigny will lose out it may simply help grow the route, plus when promoting Alderney outside the Channel Islands whats an easier name for marketing and promotional purposes “Aurigny” hardly the easiest name to pronounce and spell or “Blue Islands” a little easier I would say, so the locals can have Aurigny, the Tourists can have Blue Islands, does that not make sense?
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Surely saying ‘cheaper flights for locals’ has nothing to do with tourism??
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Here we go again, Coates surely has a hidden Agenda somewhere in all this chasing Aurigny.
We are Tourists and feel that is what the Islands needs to attract. Great for locals, but if its down to Tourists subsidising Blue Island Fares for locals we all know what that means, less Tourists ! Neither the Locals and hopefully the States Members (even after a few complementary drinks and food provided by Coates) will fall for another Carrot from this man.
Take it from us he sours everything we love about the Island of Alderney. Sorry Mr Coates the Islanders are too shrewd to believe in promises, unless they work or are paid by you.
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How desperate to ruin Alderney is Mr Coates? He has had a hand in the crippling of the tourism industry over there through his white elephant of a hotel and now he is trying to ruin the one constant the island has had, Aurigny may not be the best ever but they are there when you need them and that is worth alot, yes they cost but they save lives, and when the chips are down they give to the island more than they ever get,How many times have they pulled christmas off for Alderney with families coming over for the holidays? Whilst all Mr Coates does is try to make everyone go bust? Think Sheeple think!
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