Press Release - Covid - Lockdown Air Services 30.06.2020

Aurigny's Alderney Services During and Post Lockdown

The States of Alderney is indebted to Aurigny and Guernsey's COVID-19 Air Services Group for maintaining essential services between Alderney and Guernsey both during the long period of Lockdown on Island, and now as the Island embraces the Bailiwick's "Staycation" initiative, and re-builds its economy.

The critical nature of the Island's air services between Alderney and Guernsey are well understood by every Alderney resident. Aurigny's commitment to continue to fly the route during the very difficult and uncertain weeks of lockdown enabled the Island's essential medical needs to be met, as well as enabling essential workers to move between the Islands. As with all other essential services and their staff, we owe the organisation and its dedicated staff a significant debt of gratitude for what they have done for us.

With virtually every airline in the world hit very badly indeed by the pandemic, we have been fortunate to see our services protected and flown during the most difficult of times.

Now, as Alderney embraces the Bailiwick's 'Staycation' initiative we have seen Aurigny responding to a steady growth in demand by putting on additional flights, and by introducing attractive fares on selected flights.

Aurigny is also working very closely with Guernsey's COVID-19 Air Services Group in reaching agreement on which services to reintroduce and when. While the Island is not represented directly on this Group, there has been excellent co-operation at operational level, and officer level dialogue ensures Alderney's views are fed into its discussions.

The times ahead will contain huge financial and fiscal challenges for both Guernsey and Alderney and, more than ever before, there will be a need for both islands to work closely together to ensure that Alderney has the air services it needs to grow and prosper.

Ends