Former Aurigny staff banned from flying

Monday 03 February 2020

Union officials have accused Aurigny of overstepping its bounds, in banning three former cabin crew from flying with it.

Unite's Regional Officer Bob Lanning told Express that the airline was using a clause in its policy designed to protect passengers and crew from threatening people to severely limit these three women from travelling off island.

The former cabin crew all worked at Aurigny until the middle of last year, when they say the airline paid them to leave the business following a complaint arising over alleged bullying. Two of them said they took the money, while one didn't.

But one of those who did take the money was Tiffany Fallaize, who wanted to do the adult thing, draw a line under the incident that led to them leaving the company, and move on. Yet when she was trying to return to the island in December having been on holiday to Dubai, she suddenly found that she had been barred from flying on her return leg. This was despite the fact she had flown out of Guernsey to Gatwick on an Aurigny flight, where nothing had seemed out of the ordinary to her. 

Pictured: Aurigny is said to have paid off its former staff members after an investigation into bullying claims. 

It was on this trip on 13 December that she received a letter signed by Aurigny CEO Mark Darby which said: "In light of the ongoing activity towards our employees who were at the centre of the bullying claims, the company has today taken the decision to ban you from travelling on the Aurigny network for the foreseeable future".

Miss Fallaize said the only thing that could have caused the ban was a post on her personal Facebook feed where she referred to her and her friends as 'the bullies'. Mr Darby said Guernsey Police had been told about this incident, and used that as ammunition to back up the ban.

Guernsey Police confirmed they had been made aware, and had spoken to Miss Fallaize.

Pictured: Aurigny CEO Mark Darby pointed to articles 7.1.2 of their conditions of carriage when justifying the ban. Mr Lanning said this article "that is designed to protect passengers and crew from unruly/threatening people that may wish to travel". 

During the process of leaving Aurigny, Miss Fallaize had been working with her union, Unite, to negotiate. Upon receiving this letter when outside of the island, she immediately got back in touch with them to try and work out what to do. It was only after an Express media enquiry to Aurigny asking what was happening that Miss Falliaze was allowed travel back to Guernsey in December, because the airline immediately backed down when challenged. This was after hours of sitting in Gatwick with no way of getting home though.

"I worked for the airline for three years as cabin crew, and then there was an accusation over bullying that came up. After lots of back and forth Aurigny finally agreed they had been in the wrong, and so offered me a payout and a reference," Miss Fallaize said.

"I have flown with them several times since then, but when I was away in Dubai I suddenly got an email with a letter announcing my ban attached."

While that first ban seemed like it might have been the end of the situation, Aurigny has now reinstated it, and is not letting Miss Fallaize or her two former colleagues fly with them for the next 12 months.

Pictured: Bob Lanning, Regional Officer for Unite the Union. 

This, according to Mr Lanning, was despite repeated apologies and written assurances from the former cabin crew: "We are aware three Guernsey residents are barred from travelling with Aurigny, this follows their departure from the company.  

"They have tried to appeal the decision but have been told they are barred for no less than 12 months.  The company are using a clause in their article of refusal of carriage that is designed to protect passengers and crew from unruly/threatening people that may wish to travel. 

"It is our view that it does not fit this case, these three women have been very apologetic to Aurigny if any of their action outside of travelling have caused any concern, and despite giving written assurances, find themselves severely limited with regard to travelling off island.”

Pictured: Allegedly, Aurigny was very difficult when Unite was trying to deal with it leading up to Miss Fallaize leaving the company. It also hid behind GDPR to make Miss Fallaize have to deal with the business directly. 

This time Aurigny has doubled down on its position though. Miss Fallaize wrote to the airline to ask for her ban to be lifted, but it first responded saying she hadn't signed her letter correctly, and then a second time in a letter on the 28 January signed by Mr Darby. It said: "while I have noted your comments, the fact that the police have been involved in the activity on social media does leave me with ongoing cause for concern in respect of our employee welfare. The employees in question have felt incredibly intimidated by your behaviour and their wellbeing is paramount to us.

"For these reasons, I have reached the conclusion that at the current time we are unable to approve your request for the ban to be lifted. The ban will remain in place for a period of 12 months from the date it was enforced, expiring on the 13 December 2020."

Aurigny declined to comment on the matter.