eurostar builder
12th Sep 2003, 02:18
New local airline brings competition to the Channel Islands
Embargo: 0600 Friday 29th August
A new inter-island airline is being launched this Friday (29th August), for the first time in a generation. Rockhopper is the new name for Le Cocqs AirLink, and will begin flights between Jersey and Guernsey on the twenty second of September, with a guaranteed return fare of just £49. It’s the first time Islanders have had a choice of inter-island airlines in more than thirty years.
This change of name from Le Cocqs AirLink reflects a change in focus for the business as a whole. While rockhopper will maintain its existing routes from the Islands to Bournemouth, the future emphasis will now be on delivering more services and a better deal on inter-island air travel. As well as the Jersey/Guernsey service, rockhopper already has a licence for Jersey/Alderney flights, and plans to increase its inter-island services in the near future.
“This is a hugely exciting time for us as a new inter-island airline”, says Noel Hayes, chairman of rockhopper. “We will deliver competitive fares, and top quality customer service on inter-island air travel. It’s blatantly obvious that the current monopoly has kept prices artificially high for air travelers, and offered no incentive to improve service levels– we’re going to break that monopoly and give people a much better deal”.
From September 22nd, rockhopper will be offering up to eight flights a day between Jersey and Guernsey, with a guaranteed return fare of £49, as long as you book just two weeks before flying. Even passengers booking within a fortnight of flying won’t pay more than £69, which is still a reduction of nearly twenty per cent on current standard prices. Fares include all airport taxes and charges.
Unlike other inter-island travelers, rockhopper passengers will enjoy a special club lounge at Jersey Airport, where they’ll be served with complimentary coffee and a daily newspaper before boarding their flight. They will also benefit from a shorter check-in time than for existing inter-island flights.
“Our low fares, quality service and club facilities at Jersey Airport demonstrate that with rockhopper, the customer really will be king”, says Noel Hayes. “I believe the state-owned carrier Aurigny have exploited their monopoly for too long. You might say we are the “new kid on the rock”.
Notes for Editors
The change from Le Cocqs AirLink to rockhopper will take place over the next month, with rockhopper flying for the first time between Jersey and Guernsey on 22nd September.
Rockhopper will be flying the nine seat Islander aircraft on the Jersey Guernsey service.
Rockhopper carried 10,000 passengers in its first year of operation, the same number as Ryanair carried in their first year.
Rockhopper’s passenger numbers for the first half of this year are more than double those of last year.
Rockhopper’s website is www.rockhopper.aero and 01481 824567 is the telephone number.
Embargo: 0600 Friday 29th August
A new inter-island airline is being launched this Friday (29th August), for the first time in a generation. Rockhopper is the new name for Le Cocqs AirLink, and will begin flights between Jersey and Guernsey on the twenty second of September, with a guaranteed return fare of just £49. It’s the first time Islanders have had a choice of inter-island airlines in more than thirty years.
This change of name from Le Cocqs AirLink reflects a change in focus for the business as a whole. While rockhopper will maintain its existing routes from the Islands to Bournemouth, the future emphasis will now be on delivering more services and a better deal on inter-island air travel. As well as the Jersey/Guernsey service, rockhopper already has a licence for Jersey/Alderney flights, and plans to increase its inter-island services in the near future.
“This is a hugely exciting time for us as a new inter-island airline”, says Noel Hayes, chairman of rockhopper. “We will deliver competitive fares, and top quality customer service on inter-island air travel. It’s blatantly obvious that the current monopoly has kept prices artificially high for air travelers, and offered no incentive to improve service levels– we’re going to break that monopoly and give people a much better deal”.
From September 22nd, rockhopper will be offering up to eight flights a day between Jersey and Guernsey, with a guaranteed return fare of £49, as long as you book just two weeks before flying. Even passengers booking within a fortnight of flying won’t pay more than £69, which is still a reduction of nearly twenty per cent on current standard prices. Fares include all airport taxes and charges.
Unlike other inter-island travelers, rockhopper passengers will enjoy a special club lounge at Jersey Airport, where they’ll be served with complimentary coffee and a daily newspaper before boarding their flight. They will also benefit from a shorter check-in time than for existing inter-island flights.
“Our low fares, quality service and club facilities at Jersey Airport demonstrate that with rockhopper, the customer really will be king”, says Noel Hayes. “I believe the state-owned carrier Aurigny have exploited their monopoly for too long. You might say we are the “new kid on the rock”.
Notes for Editors
The change from Le Cocqs AirLink to rockhopper will take place over the next month, with rockhopper flying for the first time between Jersey and Guernsey on 22nd September.
Rockhopper will be flying the nine seat Islander aircraft on the Jersey Guernsey service.
Rockhopper carried 10,000 passengers in its first year of operation, the same number as Ryanair carried in their first year.
Rockhopper’s passenger numbers for the first half of this year are more than double those of last year.
Rockhopper’s website is www.rockhopper.aero and 01481 824567 is the telephone number.