Aurigny to follow Easyjet model through 'Worldwide' launch

Tuesday 06 October 2020

Aurigny has signed an agreement with Eastern Airways that will allow people to book onward flights to regional hubs including Manchester, Belfast, Leeds-Bradford and Dublin in a single transaction, as part of a wider project to provide "guaranteed connections" across the world.

The deal means that customers will soon be able to book a flight from Guernsey to destinations on Eastern's route network on the Aurigny website, which will avoid the need to pay UK Air Passenger Duty twice on separate bookings.

Commercial Director Malcolm Coupar said the States-owned airline has strengthened its position at Southampton Airport during the pandemic, with their Eastleigh-based staff have also secured ground handling work from other airlines. 

Through that Aurigny has established links with another of the key players at Southampton, Eastern Airways, which provides flights from the South-East airport to Dublin, Belfast, Teesside, Aberdeen, Leeds-Bradford and Manchester.

“This is great news for our customers as it is often a challenge in small market jurisdictions to offer the regional connectivity desired by all as demand does not justify direct flights," said Mr Coupar.

Pictured: The plan is for Eastern Airways flights to be available via the Aurigny site later this month. 

"By teaming up with Eastern we are able to provide our customers with more regional choice out of Southampton and other UK points in the future.”

East Airways Managing Director Tony Burgess said the company plans to launch some new routes on top of those already in operation in 2021. 

Mr Coupar said the deal fits into wider plans to expand Guernsey's route network by offering connecting flights on Aurigny's booking platform. 

“As we come out of this pandemic, I expect we will see more airlines concentrate their operations out of certain hubs and that agreements between airlines will be more commonplace for the benefit of the customer.

Pictured: Aurigny is working with the developers of Worldwide by Easyjet.

“We are also working on agreements with other key airlines offering services from the UK to develop ‘Worldwide by Aurigny’, which will offer customers connecting flights to worldwide destinations booked via the Aurigny website.”

"In order to launch this Aurigny are working with the developers of Worldwide by Easyjet to create a system that will enable Aurigny customers to book connecting flights out of our destinations in the UK with a multitude of carriers to global destinations from UK airports."

Mr Coupar says the system would offer customers guaranteed connections for flights under the agreement, covering passengers for flight cancellations or delays.

"The Eastern Airways agreement is just being finalised and will be fully operational in a few weeks. The Worldwide by Aurigny is a longer-term project we expect to launch by the end of year."