Airline pledges 'robust service' on Alderney route

Airline bosses said they are "strengthening operational robustness" to reduce cancellations of Aurigny flights to Alderney for operational and technical reasons.

Weather conditions were blamed for most cancellations in the first two months of the year.

Aurigny and Skybus said a second Twin Otter aircraft will be on Guernsey from the Easter weekend, meaning two Skybus aircraft will be available for flights to and from Alderney.

The announcement comes after people held a protest at Alderney airport on Sunday calling for "reliable flights now" after cancellations due to lack of crew.

The Guernsey States-owned airline operates the route with Skybus which provides the aircraft, maintenance, training.

It said is it is ready for high demand during the Alderney Week festivities in August.

A dedicated crew for Alderney has been recruited and they will finish their training in June.

Training was "impeded by poor weather conditions" and a lack of aircraft availability after damage caused by Storm Goretti.

The "lifeline" services will be supported by a dedicated Alderney crew until the end of June as they finish their training, with fully qualified Skybus crews when necessary.

Aurigny's chief executive Nico Bezuidenhout met protestors at the weekend to hear their concerns about flight disruption after the transition of aircraft started in November 2025.

Aurigny chairman Kevin George said the company took concerns "extremely seriously".

He said performance "has clearly been better since the introduction of the Twin Otter" and it is taking "immediate measures" to strengthen its service.

The company added the medical evacuation service (Medevac) was "fully in place" and a second stretcher fit had been ordered.

If follows an incident when a patient could not travel by air from Alderney to Guernsey for urgent treatment because the only option for medical evacuations was stuck in the Isles of Scilly due to poor weather.

Aurigny and Skybus said there have been no call outs since the new service started.

It added the new Twin Otter "boasts superior performance" in wet weather at Alderney Airport as the Dornier and has the same cross wind limitations and night-time flying capability.

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