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!!

Guernsey - Zurich ?
 

Well with more rumours flying yesterday about Aurigny's inter-island services going blue, and you still cannot book anything to anywhere on Blue Islands after 26th March, I see BCI have obtained slots in ZRH.
wef 26th Mar BCI940/BCI941 JS32 GCI1415/1500GCI 1234500 to 26 Oct. At last a decent place to transfer through. :ok:

five zero by ortac

Where'd you find that out? Interesting though, I guess its going to be pretty much a Guernsey only route? Whats the flying time between the two in a J32

Flight time in a J32 comes out at about 2 hours 5 minutes. That's got to be touching the upper limits!!

Captainyonder.

The distance between Guernsey and Zurich flying upper airways sat Flight level 210 the distance is 471.5 miles.

With the Jetstream as you quote would take just over two hours, I would have at a good guess more like one hour fifty flight time with taxi time at both ends would end up at two hours and ten minutes.

In an executive fit as the Jetstream is would not be to uncomfortable as you just have a single leather seat in each position you never know they might put a hostess on the flight as this would be aiming at a buisness trade at a guess.

Well at least it is a start providing it come off and good luck good to see new blood appearing around in the new year hope it continues.

Current Routes out of Guernsey:

FlyBE:
London Gatwick 4x Daily
Southampton 4x Daily
Exeter 2x Daily (Jersey Triangular)
Birmingham 2x Daily (Jersey Triangular)

Aurigny:
London Gatwick 4x Daily
Manchester 2x Daily
Stansted 1x Daily
Bristol 1x Daily
Alderney 4x Daily
Dinard 1x Daily (2x on certain Weekends)
Jersey up to 13x Daily.

BlueIslands:
Jersey up to 11x Daily
Alderney 3x Daily
Isle of Man 1x Daily (Jersey Triangular)
Due to go to 2x Daily from 26th of March.
Bournemouth up to 4x Daily (through Jersey, Alderney or Direct on Saturdays)
Cardiff 1x Weekly
Zurich 1x Daily due to start from the 26th March

Previously

FlyBE:
Little Change apart from used to be Norwich 4x Weekly

Aurigny:
Stansted used to be 3x Daily previously operated by KLMUk NOW 1X DAILY
Bristol used to be 2x Daily NOW 1X DAILY
Amsterdam used to be 1x Daily previously operated by KLMUk
Dinard used to be up to 3x Daily NOW 1X DAILY
Cherbourg used to be up to 2x Daily NO MORE
Jersey used to be up to 20x Daily. NOW 13X DAILY

BlueIslands Previously Rockhopper/Le Cocqs Airlink
Jersey Only 4x Daily then 5x then 9x. NOW 11X DAILY
Alderney Only 2x Daily NOW 3X DAILY
St. Brieuc 2x Daily (Jersey Triangular) NO MORE

Crossair Later Swiss Intl. Airlines
Zurich 1x Daily (Jersey Triangular) NO MORE


Funny how things have changed over the years, I haven't gone into great detail, I haven't mentioned British Airways etc, Air UK, the Heathrow link or any of the other many links that we once had with the UK and Europe. The Only Airline that has introduced a number of new routes in the past couple of years has only really been BlueIslands with Cardiff, Bournemouth, St. Brieuc, Isle of Man and according to rumours Dublin Zurich and maybe Southampton. Its a shame that this once busy little grotty airport shed has now become a rather quiet, badly designed but smart glass and steel terminal. Lets hope the new year brings some good news for Guernsey, weve already had news and rumours of Zurich, Dublin and Southampton lets hope this continues.

Blue island are operating from Cardiff but too be honest with an a/c only able to seat 10 passengers. I know that they seem to cancel their flight a lot as theres no-one wish to fly or they re-schedule it for a sunday. At the moment i believe their highest figure is about 4 passengers.

:ok:

The Blue Islands summer schedule is now available to book on-line. Looking at it there are not many obvious changes from last year. Guernsey-Cardiff is still 1x weekly. I'd imagine that the summer season should boost loads on this route.

But we're still awaiting the possible announcement of new destinations so hopefully there will be some good news soon :ok:

J-Guy

Shame really! It also seems that there are an extra two flights a day between GCI and JER, an extra morning and evening flight. The extra morning flight seems to use an Alderney based aircraft, as the GCI-ACI has been re-timed to 9:45 rather than 8:30 Tuesday to Thursday, Mon, Fri and Sat continue with the current timings and Sundays have been reduced to only one evening Alderney flight but an extra evening Jersey flight. Carrying on with ALderney: Shoreham has also been re-timed and now operates Tuesdays and Thursdays, Mid-Afternoon rather than Mon and Fri mid morning, certain Morning BOH flights have also been re-timed to about one hour later Monday to Friday with the Saturday flight retaining the current times, the Jersey remains Mon, Fri and Sun at the current times.

All GCI/JER-BOH and GCI/JER-IOM remain pretty much at their current timings, give or take a few minutes.

All JER-GCI flight numbers have changed leaving plenty of space for expansion..... (does this mean the other Inter-Island operator may be giving up flights?)

There doesn't seem to be any mention of the Southampton route (which apparantly they have the licence for although no official sources have confirmed this) or the Zurich and Dublin routes, I assume these new routes would allow the utilisation of the new Jetstream that is apparantly on the way, we shall see!

GCI-SOU with BCI?
 

Could this be and blue hangar opening

Interesting to hear that they have the licence to operate to Southampton from Guernsey competition is a good thing for Joe and his public.

This would tie in with the type of aircraft I heard they hope to operate with today.

There might well be news to come out in the Guernsey press tomorrow hopefully?.

GBALU53

And what type of aircraft might that be?

There must be a spare ATR or two grazing on the grass around or in the anglo hangar if I am not mistake could it be one of these?.:ok:

Well we know it cant be the shed so you can rule that one out.

We will just have to wait and let it all role out of the Blue Hangar.:ok: :ok:

Rumour indicates a Fokker 50 on the GCI-SOU :ooh:

FK50 ATR42 or another type
 

It might not be either but some thing similar there are a few more types it could turn out to be.

When are they due to annoce they ha:ok: ve the route?

I would have at a guess as soon as the aircraft is confirmed then we might know when and what the schedule will be.

I think there a number of new destinations that Guernsey could support but I doubt that there will be much progress unless the cost structure of the airport is addressed. Routes are difficult enough to develop and sustain without the additional charges that Guernsey imposes. Whilst current routes are safe, and Guernsey States are considering offering route funding, it is difficult to envisage expansion at the moment.

Flybe seemingly adhere to this position, the loss of the Norwich route is a good example, and I would imagine it is the same for Aurigny who seem content with operating lifeline routes. The States, as Aurigny’s owner, could influence new routes, but there is currently little the business sense in doing so.

But Guernsey is being more proactive in attempting to develop new routes, as their proposal to subsidise a Paris link shows. Flybe have said they are in discussion with Guernsey authorities to develop new routes, but with the airline’s current expansion it would be unlikely that Guernsey is in the receiving line for new routes for at least this year.

Optimistically, Blue Islands are obviously looking to expand, which offers good prospects for air-links. Likewise, there is a new Munich charter this summer with Lufthansa Regional, which expands tourist connections.

Route Development
 

It sounds a good word but Aurigny are finding it difficult to keep onto what they have they are over stretchnig them selves at the moment trying to operate the passenger flight with no back up.

It works well you can not afford to have spare aircraft sitting around its all very well until things go wrong.

yesterday one went tech in Gatwick again so one ATR72 to do the rest of the schedule fying whinch as we know is immpossible.

The spare ATR72 is not in the Islands at the moment it is operating out of Stansted on a temp mail contract long way away from home when things go wrong during the day.

Well Mr H needs mail to keep the bank balance going to pay for the upset passenger when things get cancelled or serious delays.

Flybe are also over stretching them selves until all the new aircraft are delivered I cant see any more route development if any to come out of the Islands

It seems GBALU53 that you were pretty spot on. This morning on local radio it was announced that a certain Blue Airline wants to start three new routes to Dublin, Zurich and Paris, according to the boss of this certain airline apparantly everything is in place including an aircraft ready in the UK, and that they are just waiting for the Go ahead from the Guernsey Government. Things are getting very interesting!!

A bit off thread here. but there was a plan a few years ago to extend the runway in GCI any news if the plan is still alive?

Looking at the Guernsey Press on-line I see that a public hearing into Blue Islands’ Southampton application is scheduled for mid-February. Reading the article it suggests that they are not too happy with the speed at which the decision is being made.

So after then I guess we'll finally know if competition will be allowed to Southampton after 5 months.

Not currently - they spent the money on a shiny new terminal instead. At the time the rationale was 'we asked the current operators and they don't need a longer runway' - funny that! All this said, it may be doubtful whether there is the business for a 737 operator like Ryanair or Easyjet to come in (and leave, full)

Commercial Aircraft Parking
 

The Airport parking of large passenger aircraft is a big joke, when are the authorities going to sort it out our is this for ever and a day.:ugh: :ugh:
The paper plane a BAE146 on saturdays unable to land before 0700 as there is only one stand to take a BAE146, so until the early morning Gatwick flybe departs they have no parking for it.:ok:
This weekend a Saab 2000 brings in passengers for the weekend, the aircraft unloads and gets airborne to park at Jersey for the week end, not the first time this has happened a Swiss BAE146 daystop did the same ferried over to Jersey for parking.:ok:
Nice bit of extra revenue for Jersey.:ok:
A bit of a joke for the operators.:sad: :ugh:
The Airport was designed for nose in push out parking but due to a nember of issues this has not been achieved so parking is 50 percent restricted when are the States and the Airport authorities going to get there act together if at all this sort of thing might well be losing revenue as airline and charters are going else where and even to Jersey may be not good.:ugh:
People have said before we are in a time worp so we need to ketch up, the states a going through some bad times at the moment but they and the airport need to sort this parking issue out sooner rather than later if at all.