Bonuses for Ports of Jersey bosses could be affected by the ‘Special Attention’ condition applied to Jersey Airport by the aviation regulator at the end of last year.
The Treasury Minister this week confirmed that the impact of the Airport’s entry into special attention “will be considered as part of the 2025 performance of the executive team”.
Deputy Elaine Millar was responding to a written question from Deputy Jonathan Renouf about the “appropriateness” of the Ports of Jersey CEO’s 2024 remuneration package – including the £120,000 bonus.
She confirmed that, while she approved the Matt Thomas’s base salary and the structure of the 2024 bonus scheme, the final decision on awarding the £120,000 bonus rested with the Ports of Jersey’s Remuneration Committee.
Deputy Millar stated she had been notified of the bonus but did not formally approve its amount, as performance assessments fall within the remit of the committee.
It comes after the Chief Minister last month said that bonus payments made to the CEOs of Government-owned entities had gone beyond a “fair and appropriate” level in some cases.
But Deputy Millar said that Ports executive bonuses are determined by a set of “genuinely stretching” performance indicators aligned with government-approved policy goals – such as improving connectivity, ensuring infrastructure resilience, and supporting environmental and economic development objectives.
She explained that bonus criterium include company financial performance, connectivity figures, customer service, support for government initiatives, and progress on strategic projects like the Harbour and Airport Masterplans.
The Minister also praised Ports’s resilient financial performance which meant that it has not required taxpayer support during or after the pandemic.
“This achievement is not to be understated, as to the best of my knowledge, they are
the only major airport and port throughout Europe not to require any taxpayer support over the last five years,” she added.
The ‘Special Attention’ condition was applied to Jersey Airport on 9 December 2024 as a result of concerns related to a restructuring of senior management.
The office of the Director of Civil Aviation confirmed on Friday 20 June that the measure was no longer in place after six months of regular audits and reporting.