THE Guernsey Transport Board has dashed plans by JerseyEuropean Airways to launch two routes.
GTB’s decision to reject JEA’s proposals to start Stansted-Guernsey flights will also mean that the airlines plans for a Paris service will be grounded.
JEA general manager of the Channel Islands, Ian Taylor, said JEA was relying on operating a Stansted-Guernsey-Paris routing, but without the London leg the airline was unable to launch Paris flights on their own.
Taylor said:”We were planning to use the same aircraft on the route and do not have other equipment for Paris flights.”
The airline has since withdrawn an application for Paris services.
The GTB chose Aurigny Air Services to operate Stansted-Guernsey flights instead of JEA.
The board said its decision was based on enhancing competition on London-Guernsey flights. JEA operates five daily Gatwick flights to Guernsey.
However, Taylor claimed the GTB’s decision will not provide enough capacity on the route.
Aurigny plans thrice-daily flights – the same as JEA proposed with 66-seater ATPs – but with a 33-seater Saab 340, giving half the capacity of the Jersey carrier.
Taylor said: “There will be high loads, but also high fares. The GTB is denying a huge volume of people the ability to get to Guernsey, which could hit tourism. We do not understand why the GTB chose Aurigny and are asking for a meeting with it in the near future.”
Aurigny rejected JEA’s criticism. Commercial manager Ian Le Moigne said: “We are planning to put a larger capacity ATR-72 on the route at the end of the year.”
Le Moigne said flights will be launched next month. A start date will be finalised this week.
Aurigny is also launching daily Guernsey-Amsterdam flights on July 1.