Condor Ferries chief in favour of seaplane service

Condor Ferries chief in favour of seaplane service

Meetings were recently held between commercial and leisure users of the Harbour and the potential operators of the operation, Clear Harbour Air.

The chairman of the St Helier Boat Owners Association, William Simpson, spoke against the project, saying that they still had a number of questions which the company was not able to answer.

However, Don Thompson, president of the Jersey Fishermen’s Association, called on Islanders to give the project a chance.

Now, Paul Luxon, chief executive of Condor, has said that the service could benefit both islands and referred to how scheduled seaplane services operated in Guernsey around 85 years ago.

‘Any improvement in inter-island connectivity must be good for both island communities, including Alderney, so Condor welcomes such an initiative that replicates a service the islands saw decades ago,’ he said.

‘Condor operates a high-frequency and virtually daily combination of sailings to and from the Island for passengers, cars and freight and where possible, part day and full day trips too.’

Meanwhile, Hugues-Robert Gros, managing director of Manche-Iles Express – Jersey’s other ferry operator – said that he had not yet been spoken to about the proposed service.

‘I know that there might be a seaplane operating from the Albert Pier but we have not been given any information about the berthing procedure or anything like that,’ he said.

‘Apart from in the newspapers, I have not been told anything.’

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