Chief minister disappointed over airline decision

Jersey's chief minister has said he is disappointed Guernsey did not grant a licence to Loganair to run inter-island routes.

The Scottish airline's bid to operate to Southampton and Jersey from Guernsey had been provisionally denied by Guernsey's Transport Licensing Authority last month.

Deputy Lyndon Farnham noted Guernsey had also not been responsive to DFDS applications to run increased services and said both islands needed to try to work harder to find a solution to travel between them.

The BBC has contacted the States of Guernsey for comment.

Last week, Jersey's sustainable economic development minister was in Guernsey to discuss sea and air links with his counterparts.

Speaking to the BBC, the chief minister said he was disappointed by some of Guernsey's recent decisions.

He said: "From Jersey's point of view, we are keen to say yes to everything. We are disappointed that Guernsey said no to Loganair.

"We're disappointed that we still haven't had a response in relation to the [ferry operator] DFDS application to run increased services between the islands.

"Jersey are here to develop inter-island transports. We want to work closely with Guernsey to do that and we're open for further discussions and look forward to finding some solutions."

Farnham said inter-island links were a "very small but important part of the economy".

He said: "I would like to see both islands double down to increase the opportunity for travel. We have to bear in mind the economies of scale.

"There is not a huge demand for inter-island travel but that is not helped by the way its been limited.

"We work well on other areas, but I think we have got to really try harder to find a solution on inter island travel.

"Its not terribly big economically, but it's hugely important socially."

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