Alderney to Jersey air link delayed by at least three months

A new direct air link between Alderney and Jersey is facing delays of at least three months.

In December, Air Alderney announced it would begin direct flights between the islands from February 2020, but it will now be delayed while the company applies for new route licenses.

The company has applied for licences for passenger and cargo services to Jersey, Lee-On-Solent and Cherbourg as well as a cargo license for Guernsey.

It is looking to buy two new Islander aircraft to run on the routes, and it will work with an operator called Airtask Group which already runs services in the Shetlands and Hebrides.

It's chairman Danny Brem-Wilson says that licenses already obtained by the company should still be valid - and that the company is frustrated by the prospect of more delays.

This has been disputed by the States of Alderney, who say the licences were issued on the basis hey could begin operating a service within six months.

Andrew Muter, the States' Chief Executive Officer, said that 'appropriate due diligence' is now being carried out before the licenses can be granted.