Aurigny will be outsourcing its operations control centre currently located in Alderney, to global aviation services group Air Partner based near Gatwick Airport.
The main driver is improved operational resilience and business risk reduction, as Air Partner will offer greater hours of operation with the ability to draw from a large talent pool of experienced airline staff in the Gatwick area. The move is expected to be completed by the end of May 2019.
Headquartered in Gatwick, Air Partner is listed on the London Stock Exchange and operates 24/7 year-round from its global office base. The group has over 55 years of experience in the aviation industry and offers managed services as part of its suite of solutions, which also includes aircraft charter, aircraft remarketing and Consulting & Training services.
Air Partner has created a dedicated Aurigny team to run the day-to-day flight operations, which is an extension of its existing 24/7 operations department. Air Partner can tap into its extended workforce for further support if necessary, thereby offering the airline a more resilient service and greater staffing capacity – especially in times of disruption.
Mark Briffa, CEO at Air Partner, said: “We are delighted to be adding Aurigny to our extensive client base and have been working closely with the team on the ground to ensure a smooth handover in operations. The airline is relied upon by many members of the Guernsey community and we are look forward to providing them with our usual high customer service levels, which have become synonymous with Air Partner.”
Mark Darby, CEO of Aurigny, said: “Aurigny has taken this decision for several reasons, but predominantly to ensure that the airline’s operations run as smoothly as possible for the benefit of our customers. A small number of Aurigny’s staff will be affected by this move and, whilst any redundancies locally are regrettable, it is in the airline’s best long-term interests to ensure the optimal management of its operations. Critical decision making will still be made from the Aurigny head office in Guernsey.”
