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A slew of suggested changes have been proposed in an external review of Aurigny, including tweaks to enable Pilot retention, greater collaboration with Guernsey Airport, and route changes.
Now Kevin George, Chairman of the States owned airline, has offered his thoughts on the report commissioned by the States Trading and Supervisory Board (STSB).
“...my reaction, and that of the board, is one of reassurance," he said. "Reassurance that the strategy that we are pursuing has been supported by the independent review, and also reassurance that the measures that we've taken for Summer 2025 in their view, and in our view, will increase the resilience of the operation.
“The things we've been doing, both strategically and through the period of disruption, have been deemed by an independent review to have been the best things we could be doing. I don't think at any point we've been looking for excuses for the disruption that happened, which obviously we totally regret and apologise for, but as we welcomed when the report was initiated, we welcomed that because having the review by a very experienced team is just reassuring that we're doing the right thing.”
You can read more about the report in full HERE, as well as reaction from the airlines CEO, Nico Bezhuidenhout HERE.
One of the points highlighted in the report centers around the working relationship between Aurigny and Guernsey Airport. This includes shifting the airports opening times and the amount of maintenance days per year.
“Obviously we have a common shareholder in STSB, and we have already started some discussions about how we can work together to ensure that the objectives of providing a resilient airline, air service, and links to the Bailiwick, and that can be can be achieved by both Aurigny and the Airport working more closely together,” said Mr George.
Discussing the issues surrounding the retention of pilots, Mr George said these are issues relating to the small size of Aurigny as well as other factors affecting other local employers.
“The issues for pilot retention in a relatively small regional carrier are more about career progression," he said. "We think there are some issues in terms of accommodation costs. So we're going to work through those, and we may well be making some requests for the States to help on the on the accommodation side.”
Pictured: Nico Bezhuidenhout, the CEO of Aurigny, addressing the press at a briefing on the PA Consultancy report earlier this week.
Despite recent calls for Aurigny's CEO, Nico Bezuidenhout to be sacked over the problems Aurigny has faced this year, Mr George has said he has been reassured by the findings of the external review.
He also commended Mr Bezuidenhout's resolve in working through the issues.
“First of all, it's obviously been a very difficult year, and particularly a very difficult summer. However, the resolve that I've had, the board has had, and indeed the CEO, is to work through those issues and to emerge on the other side of them.
“The report is reassuring, because it basically says that the things we've been doing, are the best things we could be doing. We've already seen the results of some of that, on time performance in October, with 89%, so all the indications are that we are moving in the right direction, and as such, we'll continue doing what we've been doing amazing.”
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