Planning permission has been approved on the project. However, a report by airport safety experts Aeronautical Services and Procedures has found that the demolition of the historic 1937 arrivals terminal may not be required.
As such, Deputy Russell Labey has tabled a proposition to review the viability of the scheme, review the entire Airport redevelopment project and delay demolition of the historic building.
Mr Labey wrote: ‘This proposition is a response to two questions I have been asked by Islanders in the past few weeks – is it right to proceed with a pre-pandemic £42m redevelopment of our airport in a post-pandemic world; and, can the original airport terminal be saved?
‘Others, including British Airways and easyJet have laid off staff and closed bases.
‘Normal commercial flying operations at Jersey Airport ceased almost three months ago. In that time three things have happened. First, Ports of Jersey has lost revenue from landing fees and Air Passenger Duty, a situation that is likely to continue into this summer.
‘Secondly, the loss of airlines such as Flybe has created uncertainty about which routes will be served from Jersey in the future and who will operate them.
‘It is surprising that we have heard almost nothing from Ports of Jersey, a company wholly-owned by the Government of Jersey, about whether their planned £42 million redevelopment of the Airport will be fit for purpose or, indeed, given the unknown long-term effect on passenger numbers, financially viable. This proposition seeks to assert the right of the shareholder to request a review of the redevelopment.’
A proposition from Deputy Monfort Tadier on bus ‘through fares’ will also be debated. The St Brelade Deputy wants LibertyBus to allow one ticket to be used for each journey rather than having to pay multiple fares if the trip requires more than one bus.
Infrastructure Minister Kevin Lewis has said there is potential to refine the structure of the system. However he doesn’t back a free transfer-ticket facility, and states there is already a new system coming into place in July.
And a proposition from Deputy Jeremy Maçon on when the Island’s borders will open was due to take place, but that has fallen away and will be replaced by a proposition coming from the Council of Ministers on the topic. A total of 22 written and 20 oral questions have been tabled for the sitting, while Social Security Minister Judy Martin and Chief Minister John Le Fondré are due to face questions without notice.
