Air Alderney hopes to start running the service in March, before operating further services between the northerly isle and Cherbourg and Lee-on-Solent on the south coast of England in the following months.
If the service goes ahead, it will be the first direct air link between the islands since Aurigny ran a six-month trial in 2013.
And in anticipation of an increase in travellers to Alderney, the airline is proposing to build a new airport terminal in the island which would be double the size of the existing facility. The plans are to be submitted to Alderney’s planning office and are expected to be formally unveiled later this week.
Although the airport is on States of Alderney land and is run by the States of Guernsey, the building costs would be met by the airline, it has been reported.
‘It is correct that a private business is interested in submitting an application for the construction of a new airport terminal on States land,’ said Alderney chief executive Adrian Lewis.
He said the applicant was ‘understandably keen’ to progress the proposals in a relatively short timeframe.
‘Given that the existing facilities are somewhat tired, any prospect of meaningful improvements need to be considered seriously and in a timely fashion – and this is what the States of Alderney, working in conjunction with the airport authority, will be seeking to do,’ said Mr Lewis.
