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Aurigny plans to lease two more ATRs and sell its jet under plans backed by the States.
It started operating the Embraer 195 in July 2014, but last Spring Chief Executive Nico Bezuidenhout announced a desire to simplify its fleet and said that the jet’s future was being reviewed.
The transition to ATRs is now expected to be finished next year.
“This project will allow us to rebalance our fleet. Providing customers with the most reliable service possible has always been our priority and we are confident that having a fleet made up of ATR 72s is the most efficient way to do this,” said Mr Bezuidenhout.
“This project marks the beginning of a significant push towards running a more cost-effective and efficient airline, which will inevitably have a positive impact on the overall experience of our customers. This is an exciting time for Aurigny, and we are all looking forward to seeing the benefits this will bring.”
An Embraer 195 has a higher passenger capacity than an ATR 72, but Auringy said that the overall passenger capacity for the airline will not be reduced.
All European routes currently offered will still be able to operate as they are within the 1,023-mile range of ATR 72 aircraft.
“We plan to have more daily flights to London, going from the current six to nine,” said Mr Bezuidenhout.
“We will also have flexibility to run regular flights to Paris, Manchester and Dublin and continue serving a range of popular European destinations. Many of these destinations are within the ideal range of an ATR 72, but should a jet aircraft be more appropriate, we still have the option to charter one whenever needed.”
No redundancies will be made, and all staff will have the opportunity to retrain on ATR aircraft.
Auringy says that replacing the jet with two additional ATR 72 aircraft will streamline the use of maintenance equipment and the supply of spare parts, resulting in fewer disruptions to the schedule.
It would also eliminate the need for Aurigny to maintain a roster of pilots and technicians qualified to operate two different types of aircraft.
Operating a standardised fleet simplifies the process of replacing a grounded aircraft with a standby plane, as the passenger numbers are always the same.
With turboprop aircraft, such as the ATR 72s, being more suited to the shorter routes operated by Aurigny, it will also reduce fuel usage per passenger.
Turboprops are also recognised as more environmentally friendly, it says, so airport emissions charges, such as those at Gatwick, will be less costly.
ATRs consume 36% less fuel per passenger on the route between Guernsey and Gatwick compared to a jet aircraft.
Aurigny’s current fleet
Two Dornier 228s, purchased in 2017, serving the Guernsey to Alderney route.
Pictured top: Aurigny's Embraer jet in Gatwick.
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