An aviation campaign group called the Guernsey Aviation Action Group, has urged Guernsey’s state-owned airline, Aurigny Air Services, to scrap its London Gatwick route and lease its valuable landing slots to other carriers. The group argues the move could improve pricing, resilience, and connectivity for island passengers.
Debate Over Strategy and Financial Pressures
The proposal comes as the airline faces a projected £5 million loss in 2026, following a decline in passenger numbers on its Gatwick service. The drop coincides with the launch of a competing Heathrow route by British Airways on April 19, which has reshaped travel options between Guernsey and London.
The Guernsey Aviation Action Group believes larger airlines could make better use of Gatwick slots, offering more competitive fares and stronger operational performance.
Member, Joe Mooney, reported to the BBC that leasing the slots would not mean losing them entirely but could allow Aurigny to oversee services operated more efficiently by other carriers:
“Aurigny should be looking at what’s best for Guernsey, not what’s best for Aurigny,”
He added that the airline could instead focus on regional routes to destinations such as Bristol, Exeter, and Southampton.
Mooney also questioned the airline’s attribution of its financial losses to the new Heathrow service, according to the BBC. Mooney pointed out that Aurigny reported losses of £6.5 million in 2024, before British Airways entered the market, and suggested it was too early to draw conclusions about the Heathrow route’s impact.
Aurigny Defends Role in Island Connectivity
Aurigny has rejected the criticism, maintaining it is best placed to operate Guernsey’s air links. The airline said it has worked consistently to enhance connectivity and now provides what it describes as the strongest UK links per head of population of any comparable island community.
The airline also reiterated that it had anticipated financial pressure from the Heathrow route before its launch, warning it would likely lead to a substantial revenue loss. Owned by the State of Guernsey since 2003, Aurigny was acquired to safeguard critical air connections, particularly protecting access to Gatwick after British Airways withdrew from the route at the time.
The debate highlights broader questions about how best to balance competition, connectivity, and financial sustainability in maintaining vital transport links for island communities.
What do you think about Aurigny Air Services wanting to scrap its London Gatwick route? Let us know in the comments down below.
