Aurigny says it doesn’t intend to lease one of its aircraft to the new operator of the Newquay to Gatwick route next year, and will provide ground services at the London hub instead.
Skybus, which ordinarily serves the Scilly Isles, has been awarded the contract to connect Newquay in Cornwall with London Gatwick following the collapse of Eastern Airways who previously flew the route.
The company, which has recently entered an agreement with Aurigny to provide twin otter aircraft for Alderney’s air links, said it plans to use an ATR-72 aircraft from Newquay – initially using one from Jersey-based Blue Islands.
But it said it would seek to gain a permanent ATR-72 from mid-2026 which will “be operated by Skybus Newquay-based pilots, cabin crew and engineers under an arrangement with Aurigny Air Services of Guernsey.”
But Aurigny has since said that it is “not envisaged to entail the reallocation of Aurigny’s aircraft fleet or human resources.”
The States-owned airline said it would continue to provide ground handling services to Skybus at Gatwick where it has a permanent ground presence – something also provided to Eastern.
“Skybus intends to participate in the tender process for the longer-term supply of the NQY PSO contract, and Aurigny will continue to support Skybus in these endeavours,” the airline said.
The announcement came just a day after it was reported that Aurigny may have to alter its services if Economic Development is successful in re-establishing a Heathrow link with a private, albeit subsidised, operator.
Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller, President of the Committee for Economic Development, said: “It is a matter of public record that our Committee, following work from the previous Committee of which I was also a member, has been looking into a new route and examining options.
“While I can say that talks with a potential operator are ongoing, it is also clear that such commercial discussions should remain confidential. When there is something more concrete to say about our work in this area, please be assured we will proactively communicate it to the community.”