Guernsey's airline to sell its Dorniers

Aurigny will team up with Skybus to operate the Alderney lifeline routes, promising a more resilient and financially efficient service.

Aurigny has been given a long term extension to its Public Service Obligation, essentially a fixed subsidy, to operate the Alderney lifeline routes  to Guernsey and Southampton.

For the past decade these have been run by two Dornier aircraft, bought new by the airline.

But over that time there have been complaints from regular flyers about reliability, and for periods the airline has had to run services using one aircraft, while the other is maintained. Aurigny's reliability figures show most issues are caused by weather in Alderney.

The link with Skybus will see it using its Twin Otter aircraft on the routes and the Isles of Scilly operator will also provide back up planes, maintenance and insurance.

The plan was first mentioned in the States in April this year.

Aurigny CEO Nico Bezuidenhout says the partnership will strengthen Alderney’s air links:

“Skybus have an in-depth understanding of the importance and complexity involved in delivering air services to small island communities, operating in challenging environments very similar to our own.

"Their proven expertise makes them an excellent fit to support Aurigny in delivering safe, reliable and resilient services for Alderney.”

Jonathan Hinkles, the MD at Skybus, is delighted with the partnership:

“We very much look forward to combining the experience and capability of Skybus and Aurigny – totalling nearly 100 years in all - to provide dependable service for the whole community in Alderney."

Aurigny's Dornier pilots will be offered the chance to re train to the Twin Otter, or move on to the ATR, which will become the sole aircraft Aurigny uses by early 2026.

This provides further fleet simplification and savings, because from November it will only need spares, engineers and pilots for the ATRs.

Selling the Dorniers will see the reverse of a fleet transformation begun by former CEO Mark Darby.

He bought the E195 jet which was sold last year. He also bought four Dornier aircraft to replace the iconic Trislanders -the first two were dogged by maintenance issues, and were later sold for new variants.