Following the announcement of plans to bring in an ‘Open Skies’ policy in Guernsey, and the subsequent public response by Derek Coates, chairman of local airline Blue Islands, the States of Guernsey has issued an open letter in response to Mr Coates.
The four-page letter states the facts and timeline their decision.
Mr Coates had queried the decision to classify the Guernsey-Gatwick, and Guernsey-Alderney routes as lifeline routes, making them not open to competition from alternative airlines. His concern was the Guernsey-Jersey route, as well as the Guernsey-Southampton route, both of which are currently serviced by Blue Islands, as part of their Flybe franchise.
The States response is that they have not seen any evidence to suggest that these routes are critical, in the same way that the Gatwick route is. Furthermore, they had not seen evidence to suggest that either would be sustainable without some degree of government intervention and/or ongoing financial support.
The letter also quoted the support of both the IoD and GIBA as being supportive of the open skies policy.
Mr Coates was unavailable for comment at time of publication.
