- Jersey could soon have direct flights to Alderney for first time since 2013
- Citywing has suggested operating one flight a week between the islands
- Would you fly direct to Alderney? Take our poll below
DIRECT flights could be launched between Jersey and Alderney following a successful trial of the service two years ago.
- Alderney is one of the few places in the Channel Islands to see puffins.
- It is the only Channel Island with a passenger train.
- The first Sunday in May is the islands traditional milk-a-punch Sunday, where pubs each offer their own cocktails of alcohol and milk.
- Like Jersey, Alderney has a number of striking German war bunkers and fortifications.
- Walking holidays are popular among Alderney visitors, with the island having over 50 miles of winding lanes and country paths.
In 2013, Guernsey airline Aurigny ran a seasonal service between the islands which proved popular among residents and tourists.
However, the airline showed no interest in running permanent flights, and the States of Alderney has now asked Isle of Man-based carrier Citywing to operate the route.
Citywing, formerly known as Manx 2, recently submitted a report on how it would operate a States-owned airline to cover Alderney routes.
The proposed operation model suggested one flight a week between the islands, priced £55 each way.
It is thought the service would only run during the summer.
Myra Shacklady, group commercial director for the Ports of Jersey, said that she would welcome the chance to discuss the potential route.
She said: ‘While we haven’t received any direct approach from either the airline or States of Alderney we would welcome the opportunity to discuss further.
‘Currently anyone wishing to fly between Jersey and Alderney must first travel via Guernsey but we know that direct air link services are always the preferred choice for passengers.’
Neil Harvey, Alderney Policy and Finance chairman, added: ‘The trial we conducted with a chartered plane in 2013 demonstrated that there was demand for this route, both from people in Jersey and in Alderney.
‘Aurigny has not shown any interest in re-establishing the service and we do have a bit of a relationship with Citywing now so we are writing to them to see if they are interested in doing it. They already fly to Jersey from Gloucester and the Isle of Man, so hopefully it would not be too much out of their way to come to Jersey.
‘We can contemplate some sort of subsidy or underwriting of the service, as long as it is within reason.’
Citywing has also suggested it could run six flights from Alderney to Guernsey on each weekday, three to Southampton and direct flights once a week to Cherbourg, as well as Jersey.
