Child protection and welfare considerations were behind the decision, Aurigny said, and “considerable review and consideration” was given before the choice to stop the scheme was made.
In the past when extreme cases have arisen, Aurigny has had to contact Social Services to provide childcare support following disruption to services with unaccompanied minors on board.
Now, Aurigny will introduced a Child Companion fare instead, providing concessions to adults who will have to accompany children after 5 November – the only airline in the Channel Islands to offer this kind of support.
Under this scheme, the airline will provide a free ticket to the Companion for any “positioning” leg of the journey, i.e. where the Companion is travelling alone. For example, if a parent has to accompany their son/daughter for travel to a UK school, they will get the return leg of their flight (i.e. the leg without their son/daughter) for free. The ticket for the journey where they are the Companion (travel with the child) will be charged at the normal rate. Child Companion fares are available with immediate effect. See our FAQs section of the website for full details.
The Alderney to Guernsey routes will be exempt from these changes.
The airline’s Commercial Director, Malcolm Coupar, said: “The decision to cease the Unaccompanied Minors service was not taken lightly, but was driven by child protection and welfare considerations, which we felt were impossible to ignore.
“Most other airlines have now ceased their own schemes for these very reasons, and following a lengthy review, we had no choice but to do the same, to safeguard the safety and welfare of our young passengers. We appreciate this is not a direct substitute for our Unaccompanied Minors service. However, it’s important for us to offer support to families affected by the change.”
Flybe ended its scheme earlier this year.
Aurigny’s Child Companion fare scheme is being introduced on all other year-round routes (seasonal services to Grenoble and Norwich are excluded), for adults that have to accompany a child on a flight.
Pictured: Aurigny CEO Mark Darby.
Aurigny has also revamped its assistance for passengers with reduced mobility policy, which can be read on the FAQ section of its website.
At the same time, the airline is launching a new Safety Assistant fare scheme, to support any passenger with a disability, injury or medical condition, who is unable to safely travel alone and needs to travel with another adult.
Again, under this scheme, Aurigny will provide a free ticket to the Safety Assistant for any ‘positioning’ legs of the journey, i.e. where no assistance is required, and the assistant is travelling alone. The ticket for the journey where they provide the assistance (travel with the passenger) will be charged at the normal rate. Safety Assistant fares are also available with immediate effect.
Rob Platts, founder of the Guernsey Disability Alliance, said: “The GDA has worked closely with Aurigny and other interested parties to assist the review of the airline’s services for passengers with reduced mobility and other disabilities. Significant policy improvements followed, which will not only reduce barriers to travel but also ensure that requisite air safety standards are met. The GDA would like to thank Aurigny for its effective consultation.”
Mr Coupar added: “As a community airline, we felt it was important to offer these concessions. We will always do all we can to ensure travel is not restrictive for any members of the community and wholeheartedly believe that providing complimentary travel, in these circumstances, is the right thing to do.”
For journeys after Monday 5 November, following the October half term, children aged 14 and 15 will continue to be able to fly unaccompanied, with minor administrative changes being made.
