Waves wants to offer "scenic flights"

Tuesday 30 January 2018

The airline, Waves, wants to offer a "scenic flights" service out of Guernsey Airport.

The locally based airline and tech developer says the charter flights would be available during the "tourist season although it is envisaged they will equally appeal to locals".

Waves' Chief Operating Officer and pilot, Matt Bisson, says: "The application to the Transport Licensing Authority underlines our commitment to a key Guernsey industry; tourism. Waves is serious about attracting more visitors to the island and we will market these flights to visiting cruise liner passengers as well as more traditional staying visitors.”

He continues: "The views from a flight over the Bailiwick on a fine day are stunning and varied. Customers will get to see the roofscapes of the forts, admire the stunning coastlines on offer and will be able to appreciate how vast our beaches are at low tide."

The airline had been offering flights between the islands as a "taxi service" before a complaint lodged by Blue Islands saw the service stopped. Instead Waves now offers charter flights between Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney where customers have to book the whole flight. The airline is hoping to revert to its previous model on further discussion with the Transport Licencing Authority, under the States of Guernsey.

The new scenic flights service will be operated using a Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft if the TLA approve the application.

Waves said it is "the perfect viewing platform for scenic flights because it is stable and suited to slow flying. Plus, its light, airy cabin offers customers excellent visibility".

In a statement Waves said it does not envisage any issues with its application to run a scenic flights service because Aurigny operated these types of flights on several occasions when it retired its last Trislanders.