From the Guernsey Press.
Any thoughts?
Banks seek interest in a Zurich air link return
by Alex Hanna
TWO Channel Islands-based Swiss banks want a direct Zurich air link reinstated.
Credit Suisse and UBS are seeking to gauge public opinion.
‘I imagine we could find quite a reasonable interest,’ said UBS chief executive officer Hans Baerlocher.
‘We felt that there were not enough connections to the Continent in general and not just Zurich.’
The banks both do a significant amount of business with the Swiss city and have already been in discussions with Aurigny about the feasibility of providing direct flights. They have offered to do the research and to help, to some extent, with prices.
‘If there is sufficient demand, then we are certainly confident that a link between the Channel Islands and the Continent will be established,’ said Credit Suisse chief executive officer Albert Good, who is also Honorary Swiss Consul for the Channel Islands, and Mr Baerlocher.
‘It will make transport easier and more efficient for both business and leisure travellers and should also help to grow business.’
Mr Baerlocher said that senior managers were being put off coming to the island because of the inconvenience of having to change planes.
‘It does more damage long-term, because if senior executives don’t actually see what is here in the island, they won’t get an impression of what we have here and so they are less likely to direct business here.’
Direct flights to/from the two islands were discontinued on 30 March 2003 by Swiss International Airlines. Currently, it is possible to reach Zurich only via Southampton and Geneva, which involves an additional three-hour train journey, or by flying to Gatwick and then taking a direct flight from Heathrow.
Mr Baerlocher envisaged a smaller plane being used on the route, possibly similar to the Saab previously used. He suggested that an average return ticket could cost about £300.
‘It is not very cheap, but it is also not very expensive and it is very convenient.
‘The previous Swiss link was never unprofitable over the year and I don’t think the plane was ever less than half full, but the company ran into problems.
‘A lot of people also like to go skiing and Zurich can be a good changing airport for other long-haul destinations, such as South Africa.’
He said that the company would consider helping with handling fees in Zurich, or landing fees in the islands.
‘It has to be a commercial proposition and so we need to quantify the interest first.’
Credit Suisse employs 373 people across the Channel Islands and UBS 175 in Jersey. It estimated that between them, on average, three people travel back and forth every day, normally business class.
Aurigny marketing manager Ian Le Moigne said: ‘We have been in discussion with the other parties and the feasibility is now with UBS and Credit Suisse. We will wait for them to go to the market and revert to us.’
The Commerce and Employment Department is also interested in the potential link, which would benefit the island.
‘Clearly, it is all down to the market, but the more links we have with the Continent, then the better position we are in to market the island as a tourist destination and to meet the needs of businessmen,’ said chief officer Nigel Lewis.
‘There is no doubt that there is interest there, but the whole question is to what extent the link is viable from an airline’s point of view.
‘We hope they [the links] will come to fruition, but we are realistic that it will depend on the harsh facts of the market.’
* Individuals who might use a new air link, for business or leisure, should contact Anne Hamon on 233865, or e-mail
[email protected], or they can send a letter to Credit Suisse (Guernsey), PO Box 368, St Peter Port, GY1 3YJ