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In a bid to boost passenger numbers, and the revenue raised at Guernsey Airport, some charges could be frozen while others; including car parking fees, could be increased.
The Guernsey Airport Business Plan for 2018 - 2022 has been published today, "setting out its future vision with a new business plan that sets out priorities to increase passenger numbers, cut costs, and boost financial revenue for Bailiwick taxpayers."
Among the ideas suggested are plans to increase passenger numbers, increase non-aeronautical revenue, commission a property utilisation plan and reduce Guernsey Airport’s operating costs from 2017 levels by £340,000.
These four key aims have all been given priority status with a target of achieving them by the end of next year,
Increasing the number of passengers passing through the airport is considered important to "improve the financial performance of the Airport whilst importantly reinforcing its role as a critical economic enabler for the island."
This will be tackled a number of ways to try and combat the recent reduction in passenger numbers.
The highest recorded peak in passenger numbers was in 2008; with 918,978 passenger movements in the year. This compares against a 2017 passenger level of 813,595; a reduction of 11% in just 9 years. The airport business plan said "comparisons at a route level quickly reveal the primary cause to be a slump in inter- island travel and dramatic reductions on passengers flying to and from Southampton."
In a bid to combat this reduction in passenger numbers, suggested Initiatives include:
Pictured: Among the airlines using Guernsey Airport regularly is Aurigny meaning their fleet of planes is a familiar sight over the islands and at the airport itself
Mr Le Ray told Express that "exploiting new routes" could also include the lengthening of the airport runway - but that is still a long way off and not an immediate plan.
He said; "work on passenger numbers and new routes is, in our view, our short term priority. Any runway extension would likely take longer to deliver and should not distract from what can still be done in the shorter term. We are aware of, and are actively participating in, various studies and discussions on runway extensions and will continue to support that. However we don’t see the growth potential in passenger numbers and new routes to be dependent on an extension."
Another way of boosting passenger numbers would be by making air travel cheaper where possible. That could include freezing some of the charges imposed by the airport on the airlines which are passed on to passengers.
"The proposal before our Board for ratification is to freeze Airport charges at Guernsey including aircraft charges, passenger charges and security charges for commercial airlines effective 1 April 2019," said Mr Le Ray.
On the other hand some charges could be increased, namely the car park charges.
Guernsey Airport is currently the only place on the island with a metered car park. As part of a revenue raising missing those charges could be increased.
Mr Le Ray said the first hour would still be free but if the increased charges are approved it will affect people parking long term.
"We are proposing increased charges for long term parking at Guernsey Airport from next January. The first hour will remain free, as will drop off on the forecourt, which probably makes us almost unique across most airports across the UK. Having that first hour free will be important in trying to attract more folk to use our facilities, including the café, retail landside shop and the cash point. We also have foreign exchange facilities (Euros only at the moment)," he said.
Other ways to increase revenue at the airport could include optimising the spend of customers using the retail units landslide. Mr Le Ray said feedback from "tenants and partners" would be used to ensure that "their demands and expectations to improve and grow their business can be met through continued development of the estate and to ensure that their growth can be met through improved facilities."
The Ports will commission a Property Utilisation plan by the end of 2019, to determine if demands for additional airside space can be met in the short to medium term.
A Business Plan for Alderney Airport is also being drawn up to increase passenger numbers and revenue raised.
You can read the full Business Plan for Guernsey Airport here: Business Plan Guernsey Airport 2018-2022
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