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Aurigny is considering how links to Alderney can be made more robust.
Urgent questions were asked in the States of Guernsey yesterday, after the island was virtually cut off for two days earlier this month when technical problems hit one plane and another was unavailable because it was undergoing maintenance.
Alderney representative Alex Snowden quizzed States Trading and Supervisory Board President Peter Roffey about what had happened and what could be done.
STSB acts as the shareholder in the States-owned airline.
"I did indeed raise my concerns with Aurigny," said Deputy Roffey.
"The PSO contract is based on a two aircraft model, with one scheduled for flying and one kept on standby in the event of disruption or medivac. So they generally benefit from a higher level of resilience than Aurigny's other operations, but during the annual heavy maintenance checks, the contract allows for the available aircraft to be reduced to one.
"These checks are always planned for the quieter winter months and usually take four weeks to complete, but supply chain issues means they've taken longer this winter.
"Regrettably, the single aircraft in service suffered a technical fault in Southampton, meaning both parts and engineers had to be sent from Guernsey to carry out repairs. Aurigny actually routed a scheduled flight to Exeter via Southampton to get them there more quickly.
"Once repairs had been completed, test flights were then delayed by inclement weather, delaying a return to service. In the meantime, Aurigny arranged boat transfers for affected passengers with Southampton passengers re-routed by air via Guernsey to connect with the boat.
"While I am very sorry indeed for the disruption, I am satisfied that Aurigny did everything it reasonably could. Of course, an alternative would be to have other aircraft on standby during the winter maintenance program. But I'm afraid the expense would be significantly outside the cost envelope for the contract set by P&R, even assuming such aircraft were available."
Mr Snowden suggested the two plane model was too fragile and there needed to be another solution.
Under the contract granted by P&R, £2m. a year is available to run the route. Aurigny was the only airline that made a compliant bid for it and made it clear that a two plane model was all that could be achieved, Deputy Roffey said.
"I am encouraging Aurigny to look at lateral thinking ways to address the issue of resilience within the PSO and it's far too early to say anything publicly about that, but I know that they are looking to see whether something can be done," said Deputy Roffey.
He was asked whether the Dorniers which fly the route were the correct aircraft.
"Both the present STSB and the current leadership team of Aurigny inherited that decision that was taken in a previous time. I know that in its broad ranging considerations about how greater resilience can be brought to the route, that is one of the questions that is being currently addressed by Aurigny but as to say it's far too early to say, what, if anything will come out of that process."
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