Public meeting on options to improve Alderney's airport

Sunday 20 February 2022

Options for improving Alderney's airport - including the runway - will be discussed at a public meeting next month.

The team behind the project - led by Guernsey Ports - will be in Alderney on Tuesday 8 March and is holding a public drop-in for islanders who want to discuss the options.

They include widening Alderney's runway, extending its length and developing it to take heavier aircraft as well as improving facilities at the airport. 

Guernsey Ports, which is responsible for the operation of Alderney's airport, is currently carrying out detailed feasibility work on these options. 

Pictured: Upgrading the airport terminal is one of the options which will be discussed at the public drop-in.

Guernsey Ports Managing Director Colin Le Ray and Chief Operating Officer Ross Coppolo will be at the public drop-in at the Island Hall between 13:00 and 19:00 on 8 March. They will explain the options they are studying and answer questions from the public.

They will be accompanied by Nico Bezuidenhout, Chief Executive of Aurigny.

While in Alderney, they will also brief States' members.

Pictured: The members of the States' Trading Supervisory Board, which will make recommendations to improve Alderney's airport based on a feasibility study of options currently being carried out by its officials.  

In a statement announcing the drop-in, the States of Alderney said: "A number of possible developments affecting the runway, associated infrastructure and the types of aircraft that would be able to operate the island’s lifeline routes are currently being considered. They include:

• full rehabilitation of the existing 877 metres-long asphalt runway, with a widening to 23 metres, and associated infrastructure including improved drainage and centre-strip lighting; 
• additional groundwork during the rehabilitation work above to accommodate larger aircraft at a future date, should a business case prove such an extension to be viable; 
• a longer runway of 1050 metres following a small extension out to the west at a width of either 23 metres or 30 metres, with improvements to the taxiway and apron;  
• improvements to the terminal building, fire station and airport security arrangements. 

"The next steps are to listen to the views of islanders before Guernsey’s States’ Trading Supervisory Board, which has political responsibility for Guernsey Ports, makes its recommendations to the Policy & Resources Committee, along with a detailed business case."

Pictured: Developing Alderney's airport, including the runway, has been debated by politicians in Alderney and Guernsey for many years.

Bill Abel, Chairman of Alderney’s Policy & Finance Committee, said: “The issue of our air connectivity is extremely important to the whole Alderney community and above all we must future-proof our airport so that the island can thrive and prosper as an integral part of the Bailiwick. 

“In addition, many elements of the Island Plan recently agreed and now being put into action are reliant on resilient air connectivity.

“We are aware that a number of options have been considered by the project team and I am sure the community will appreciate the opportunity to understand and discuss what the future could be.” 

Pictured: Bill Abel, the President of Alderney's senior committee, is looking forward to the drop-in at the Island Hall. 

Ross Coppolo, the senior responsible officer for the project, said the drop-in would be a valuable opportunity for the community to provide feedback. 

“We want to be able to explain the work that has been carried out to date and the options that we have been looking at. However, we also want to hear from islanders as well, and that could help to inform the recommendations the States' Trading Supervisory Board will put forward,” he said.