Scaffolding will remain in place at the airport terminal for the foreseeable while engineers attempt to figure out how extensive structural damages to the roof are.
The terminal’s roof has had several problems since it was opened in 2004.
Most recently panels were dislodged when Storm Ciaran battered the island in November 2023.
Scaffolding was erected last March to prevent further damage and allow inspections to take place.
At the time the States said it would be in place for at least a year to allow for survey and repairs.
Nearly a year-and-a-half later, and following an extension of the scaffolding to the lower parts of the terminal in December, T&G Structural Engineers have been appointed to inspect the damages.
Deputy Mark Helyar, President of the States’ Trading Supervisory Board, warned that it’s not possible to name a date when repairs will be complete due to the government’s squeezed financial position and backlog of maintenance projects.
“Regrettably, the government’s continued structural deficit and the fact that the ports have a substantial list of repairs which we already cannot afford to fund, means that the timescale for completion of any necessary repairs remains uncertain,” he said.
“I am sure we would all like to see the roof repaired as soon as possible given the status of the airport as a primary business and travel gateway, but the scaffolding cannot be removed until the structure has been inspected, repaired and declared safe.”
A detailed report will later recommend how to repair the roof.
T&G will start at the highest point of the roof and work their way down.
Access to the arrivals door will be partly restricted while works take place on the lower sections of roof panels.
Guernsey Ports Airport Director Richard Thomasson said while the scaffolding is undesirable it is playing a key function in protecting the building.
“It provides a layer of protection to the current structure and sustaining aerodrome operations, so will need to remain in place until we can deliver a long-term solution,” he said.
“The survey is an important milestone, as it will provide the clear answers needed to decide those next steps and the likely costs.
“We need to understand these before we can address how this work can be funded, and it will need to be prioritised alongside other critical infrastructure maintenance across Guernsey Ports.”