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Guernsey's airline braced for competition into London

Aurigny's CEO is pragmatic about the competition from BA, but says it will have a measurable impact on passenger numbers.

From April, BA will operate a daily Guernsey - London Heathrow service, subsidised by the States.

The move from Economic Development is designed to improve connectivity for both the business and tourist markets, but it will come at a cost to Aurigny.

CEO Nico Bezuidenhout says he understands that:

"It's a difficult conundrum. On the one side I can wholly accept and understand that there is a segment of the market that would like services to Heathrow.

"On the other hand, there is no doubt there will be an impact in at least the medium term in terms of existing demand for Gatwick travel.

"I can't deny Heathrow adds to connectivity. Whether or not it affects the sustainability of our London connections is the big question.

"Guernsey is already one of the most well-connected locations to the capital in terms of frequency and in my opinion we already substantially service the need that there is."

Whatever the impact on the London market, Mr Bezuidenhout says they plan to keep London City because of its importance to the business community.

Interestingly, he says Aurigny has the capacity to fly to Heathrow:

"Adding one additional rotation a day, given where our fleet will be in any event in terms of the additional Jersey and Southampton flights would be possible, but one of the challenges has always been the ability to get slots at Heathrow Airport.

"These slots are extremely scarce and carriers hold onto them and that's the challenge, getting hold of additional slots to run the service and that's why we've not operated Heathrow services before."

Aurigny's Gatwick link is classed as lifeline and it operates multiple times a day. Mr Bezuidenhout says if demand falls off and they suspend a slot, it could affect their allocation into London's second airport:

"We are almost guaranteed to lose those slots if we don't operate them.

"The challenge that we then have, is what do you do, in two or three years from now, when there might, or might not, be a Heathrow service."

BA begin their Heathrow Guernsey connection in April, offering a lunchtime flight on an Airbus into Terminal 5.

More from Guernsey News from Island FM

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