Initially, there were just a few trips a year - with the first flight on the 1 March 1968, when fares were £2 per passenger for the trip between Alderney and Guernsey.

Pictured: An Aurigny flight in the airline's early years

Nine passengers could fly on those early trips, with the airline's initial business aim being to recoup the £20,000 cost of the first Islander aircraft. Two more aircraft were purchased that year and by the end of Aurigny's first year in business, more than 45,000 passengers had taken to the skies and a fourth Islander was purchased.

Since then Aurigny has expanded its fleet many times - first with the introduction of the Trislander in 1971, later the Saab 340, the ATR and most recently the Embraer Jet and the Dornier.

Pictured: Aurigny's Jet and its popular Trislander 'Joey'

The Alderney based airline was bought by the States of Guernsey in 2003 in a move which was described at the time as vital to safeguard the future of several key air links for both islands, especially the 'lifeline London Gatwick route'.

Since then the airline has further expanded its network and says it is proud to have served so many customers from the Bailiwick and around the world throughout its 50 years. Aurigny says it now wants those passengers to help it celebrate its anniversary in style this year.

Throughout the course of 2018, the airline is planning to host a series of community events, activities and competitions. It is inviting charities and organisations to suggest volunteering projects that the airline’s staff can get involved in. Aurigny is also planning special flights for 2018, including a commemorative recreation of the airline's first ever flight on 1 March.

Aurigny's other ideas include a charity 'aircraft pull' during the summer and there are also plans to be involved in all the major events in the Bailiwick calendar including the North Show and Battle of Flowers, the West Show, the Harbour Carnival, and Alderney Week. Aurigny is also going to run an island-wide primary schools competition.

Aurigny CEO Mark Darby says “This is a very exciting and special year for everyone associated with Aurigny, and one that we all want to celebrate in style. As it is such a significant milestone, we really want the whole community to get involved and we have a number of great initiatives throughout 2018. We really hope that people of all ages, across the Bailiwick, will help us celebrate and make it a year to remember.

As a community airline, we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the last five decades, but it could not have been done without the dedication and hard work of so many staff, past and present and the fantastic support of the travelling public. For that we owe a huge thanks.

We also want to use this anniversary year as an opportunity to shine a light on Guernsey and the Bailiwick and show the wider-world what a great place it is to visit.

Looking ahead, we have plenty of other exciting plans to look forward to in 2018, and of course, for many more years to come.”

Pictured: Mark Darby, CEO of Aurigny

The airline is looking for more ideas to celebrate its 50th anniversary too. If you have any contact Aurigny by emailing paulainsworth@aurigny.com