Economic Development President: Aurigny needs be profitable

Aurigny needs to be a profitable company to survive, according to Guernsey's President of Economic Development.

The airline recently announced it will make a loss of £4.5m by the end of this year.

Deputy Peter Ferbrache says the States should realise that companies need to make a profit to operate, 'whether it's a hotel, a shoe shop or an airline'.

When asked about the subject of Aurigny's losses predicted in the 2017 budget and how Aurigny should change, Deputy Ferbrache stated he felt the States needed to be more commercial in it's approach to the company.

He added the States needs to take a similar vein of thought when discussing Blue Islands, Condor and other operators.

He says the real test to see whether the States can work in this way, will be at the Island Development plan debate, due to start on Wednesday.

Deputy Ferbrache's hopes for more commercial services from the airline were echoed by Guernsey's Chamber of Commerce today, who said there should be a focus on bringing tourists to the island.

Aurigny is States owned and provides 'life-line' services between the islands and the mainland.

But, there have been many complaints about its service and today an Alderney politician lodged a vote of no confidence in the company.