States of Guernsey scraps 'unaffordable' plans for Alderney Airport as cost rises to £37 million

  • ITV Channel's Kate Prout reports on the latest setback for Alderney's new airport. Picture courtesy of AECOM / States of Guernsey

Approved plans to replace and extend Alderney Airport's runway and rebuild the passenger terminal have been scrapped by the States of Guernsey.

The Policy and Resources Committee say current proposals are now "unviable and unaffordable" as the price tag has risen from an agreed budget of £24.1 million to £37 million following a tender process.

However, the group says it is "committed to maintaining suitable air links to Alderney" and wants to look a smaller, more cost-effective solutions.

The Committee adds it will work with the States of Alderney to explore options for covering the increased price tag.

One possibility could see Alderney contributing to the cost of the runway and terminal upgrades.

The Committee says it will continue discussing proposals with the States of Alderney but it intends to debate the issue in the States of Guernsey before the island's next General Election in June 2025.

Guernsey politicians had agreed to the current proposals - including extending the runway to allow larger planes to land - in December 2022.

More than 600 flights to and from Alderney were delayed or cancelled due to adverse weather conditions in 2023, according to a Freedom of Information response from the States of Guernsey.

All commercial flights to and from Alderney are currently operated by the airline Aurigny which uses 19-seater planes to fly to the island.

Aurigny is the sole commercial operator of flights to and from Alderney. Credit: ITV Channel TV

Alderney residents and politicians have expressed concerns about a current lack of reliable air links with Guernsey for healthcare, business and trade.

The runway is currently covered with a patchwork of temporary repairs.

Hotel director Tracey Farquhar-Beck says: "Shocked but not shocked is my reaction, I'm very disappointed and worried.

"If there isn't a resolution to this, if nothing happens, then the impact will be terrible, devastating, especially for tourism on Alderney. We have enough problems as it is."

The Chair of Policy and Finance for Alderney States, Nigel Vooght, adds: "It's already having an impact on tourism and business, when the runway has to be repaired then you can't fly planes there.

"We need to improve the runway so we can help tourism and rebuild our economy, it's vital."

Alderney Airport timeline:

  • 1936 - The first commercial flights to Alderney take off.

  • 1967 - Improvements are carried out to the island's runway and airport.

  • 2019 - The States of Guernsey agrees to spend £12.2 million on improving the runway and airport.

  • 2022 - The States of Guernsey agrees on a revised figure of £24 million pounds.

  • 2024 - Guernsey's Policy and Resources Committee throw out the current plans as costs rise to an "unviable and unaffordable" £37 million following a tender process.

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