Guernsey
 

From the Guernsey Press - 16/9/06 Anyone think any of the airlines will be keen?
Dublin and Zurich air links planned
by James Falla
THE States is looking to develop new air routes with Dublin and Zurich.
But a planned link with Paris, which it was hoped would start next month, could be in jeopardy after a dispute over funding in Jersey.
Guernsey has agreed a subsidy package with Flybe for the Paris service. But the Jersey authorities, after originally agreeing the funding, have failed to confirm it, which is worrying the airline.
‘We don’t know what the problem is,’ said chief commercial officer Mike Rutter.
‘We are very worried about it. Because of the way French air slots work, we only have a limited period of time and then our opportunity for this route is lost for another two years.’
Mr Rutter praised the Guernsey States for its approach.
Commerce and Employment minister Stuart Falla said: ‘We had been hoping that Paris would start around now, but we are waiting for the Jersey response.’
Jersey authorities were in a meeting yesterday at which it was thought that the Paris route might have been on the agenda.
The link would be the first to secure new-style funding from Guernsey, including a start-up subsidy payment from taxpayers’ money and discounted airport fees for the first two years.
It is proposed that similar arrangements apply for Dublin and Zurich if there is interest when the States seeks operators next year. It thinks it would benefit investment from outside the island, visitor numbers and islanders. A joint States group, with involvement from Commerce and Employment and Public Services, has identified the three cities as targets for new routes for the island.
‘Our external relations group is trying to address the problems of getting here for a reasonable price,’ said Deputy Falla.
‘Route development will use taxpayers’ money to help reinforce these routes in their early days when it doesn’t have the volume to support.’
Deputy Falla said that the first step for the States would be to identify the financial support required by airlines interested in operating the routes. Money used in route support has been redirected from elsewhere in the budget of the former Tourist Board, which now forms part of the Commerce and Employment mandate.
Published 16/9/2006

I think the Paris CDG route was supposed to be operated by Flybe on Q400, with a stop at Jersey before ! I cant understand why because there is already a route JER-ORY operated by a french company so called Twinjet :confused: ..
I guess Paris has an enormous potential not only for the wonderful "city of love", but also for Disneyland, and the Skyteam link (Air France, Aeromexico, Delta, etc..). Moreover the LGW/ORY (or CDG) doesnt exist, so it is not very easy for people living in the channel Islands to fly with the Skyteam !
As far as I have heard, Aurigny doesnt want to operate this route due to high landing fees at Paris :bored: :ugh: ..
Dublin also is probably a good route ! Aurigny is about to operate ATR42s soon, so who knows ?!

I'd have thought Aer Arann was a possibility for GCI-DUB (maybe even JER-DUB as well). Good to hear ZRH being a possibility again too, perhaps Darwin Airlines, which operates a seasonal service to JER?

I don't know what the story is with Jersey, but I'll try and find out. As for Twinjet, I wouldn't even bother - their schedule is useless. BE to CDG makes more sense, BUT the problem with BE is that it doesn't interline with anyone else. I wonder if that might be a factor? What we really need is an airline that does do that and if BE can't do it, maybe the Jersey authorities want to find someone who will - perhaps one of the AF regional partners.

Given the number of Irish people who live in Guernsey (inc Mrs Guern) if it was a direct flight to Dublin that would be great. Having to go to Dublin or Belfats via another UK airport with FlyBe is such a pain it makes it a long trip by the time you factor in sitting around in another airport on the way there.

Aer Lingus goes to Jersey anyway..

How exciting Aerlingus operates from Jersey!!! Aside from the fact that Jersey isn't Guernsey the Aerlingus route only operates March to October.

For the cost of getting to Jersey we had just as well transit through the UK in most cases, hence why we are discussing a route from Guernsey!

Guernsey Routes
 

I can see where Guern is comming from reference the Paris route but one must not for get Jersey had a connection many years ago and the last operator was the early days of Flybe (Jersey European)

Look at this the airport will not be giving them every thing on a plate where Guernsey might to get the route going.

With reference the Guernsey to Dublin and Zurich do not quote me but there could be a Jetstream operator going to take this on and i think one can work out who this may be.

The Zurich route needs a very high fare as the aircraft is small capicity to make it viable.

Would airlines want to start a route in the winter????

I would think to test the water for new routes it would be better to start at the start of a season??

Blue Islands is the only realistic option of finding a new operator to fly to Zurich. It is just like the Isle of Man route, based primarily on a thin but lucrative business market.

I don’t see any other airline that could operate to Zurich. VLM and, more recently, Atlantic Express have considered operating to Zurich but nothing has ever come of it. These airlines have the resources to operate the route though they choose not to, which I think emphasises the very limited appeal of a Zurich flight.

It is also positive that Guernsey is using their initiative by offering route development funds. I can see the potential with Dublin and possibly destinations like Cardiff, Edinburgh or Glasgow.

and direct routes to Portugal as well as those islands are full of portugese people !! :8

Guernsey Airport
 

Doesn't seem to be that much regarding Guernsey Aviation on this forum, especially seeing as flying is the main form of transportation off the little rock!

It's a shame really how aviation in the ilsnad has declined quite heavily over the past few years with the loss of many links to Europe as well as the UK and now only three airlines operating into the island. Will the new year bring some good news for this little 24 square mile rock?


Thread merged with the Guernsey thread already extant.

See also:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=210544

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=211973

Oh for the days when Air UK, Dan Air, Guensey Airlines, BAF, Cityhopper
and others were flogging in and out.

I have fond memories of working at the airport in the 80's.

BlueIslands already operate a once wekkly sheduled service to Cardiff. Rumour has it on this website that there are more destinations on the cards many mentioned on this thread, for BlueIslands

Its a shame VLM has never really done much in the islands, they applied for the Guernsey-London City route but never operated it and the Jersey-London City has been reduced to once a day, surely a twice daily triangular service with the two islands to London City would prove very popular, especially considering the financial instituions based in the islands. VLM could also operate a similar once daily triangular service to Amsterdam, I remember when the KLM Amsterdam used to be really busy and that was a Guernsey only route!

Amsterdam route
 

Gcij32

Ref the Amsterdam route for a period of time the service was operated Amsterdam-Guernsey-Jersey-Amsterdam with KLM Cityhopper Fokker 100s.

If I remember correctly the service operated on the following days Wednesday, Saturday and Sundays during the summer period.:ok:

Yes, I saw that Blue Islands had added Cardiff, albeit a weekly flight. I think that extra Cardiff flights are more than likely for the summer although I wonder what the passenger numbers will be like for the winter period. As a Saturday only flight it is not convenient for locals or, indeed, short-breaks on behalf of Healthspan. Biggin Hill has not been continued into the winter so it surprises me that Cardiff has been launched at such a time.

J-Guy

You'll find the Biggin Hill is still operating through the winter on a Healthspan Charter basis, I know there was a flight last Saturday!!

Actually NLM operated F28 & F27 equipment on this route with KLM Cityhopper then operating F50 & SF340 aircraft. KLMuk then took over the route with a mix of ATR72 & F50's. Then Aurigny took over for a short time with their SF340's. KLM never operated Fokker 100's.

Klm-nlm
 

Jerbourg

I stand corrected yes your are correct in NLM this was in reply to GCIJ32s comment

Guernsey Dublin
 

I was reading above that possible routes operate from Guernsey to Zurich and Dublin.

Blue Island are opening a route to Dublin from Jersey I read in Irish Air Letter, I wouldnt be surprised if they did Guernsey too.

With a major runway resurface due, the inclusions of RESA's required by the powers, why not invest that little extra (whilst all the disruption and contractors are in) and extend the runway and grouve it to allow operations by the new quiet efficent jets out there. Could even upgrade to Cat 11 approches.:D

Rather than being left as a Dash/ATR turboprop backwater:ooh: , a good London multi sector day service and a larger selection of regional/european destinations would be viable on a less frequent service (altn days / weekly for tourisim).

Need the States of Guernsey to bite the bullet and get the lot done in one go.:ugh:

[quote=hapzim;3040489]With a major runway resurface due, the inclusions of RESA's required by the powers, why not invest that little extra (whilst all the disruption and contractors are in) and extend the runway and grouve it to allow operations by the new quiet efficent jets out there. Could even upgrade to Cat 11 approches.:D

Rather than being left as a Dash/ATR turboprop backwater:ooh: , a good London multi sector day service and a larger selection of regional/european destinations would be viable on a less frequent service (altn days / weekly for tourisim).

Need the States of Guernsey to bite the bullet and get the lot done in one go.:ugh:[/quote

We all know that the states more than likely will not extend the runway, that would cause an increase in competition from jet operators, now we wouldn't want that for wee little Aurigny now would we?? They "may" lose money!!