Guernsey Airport spent more than £330k on overtime last year
Staff at Guernsey Airport did more than 7,850 hours of overtime last year because of late openings caused by plane delays, costing more than £330,000, the States' trading arm has said.Meanwhile the airport made 24% more from parking charges in 2024, after prices increased the previous October the States' Trading Supervisory Board (STSB), which oversees the island's airline Aurigny, said.The information was revealed as part of a series of Rule 14 Questions raised by Deputy Simon Vermeulen which also showed the airline made a loss in 2024 because of "exceptional" costs such as wet leasing and repairs to its Embraer jet.The STSB said Aurigny's underlying financial performance remained "positive" and the company would have broken even if not for the unexpected costs.
'Historically good levels'
A review commissioned by the airline last year found its management had made no "misjudgements" but a separate report said Aurigny's prices were 30% higher than comparative prices for Jersey and the Isle of Man.Deputy Peter Roffey, STSB president, said he "[appreciated it would] be of no comfort" to passengers affected by disruptions but "Aurigny's punctuality rates [had] returned to their historically good levels".
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4 days ago
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Aurigny passengers frustrated with days of disruption
A flight operator in Guernsey has apologised to customers after a weekend of said "unforeseen technical issues with other aircraft, alongside a higher-than-expected level of crew sickness" had lead to flight cancellations on Saturday, Sunday and people who had their flights cancelled told the BBC that Aurigny needed to communicate with their customers better at an earlier Aurigny spokesperson said the company is "not satisfied" with its service levels. 'They didn't tell us' Esme Farrell, 21, said she was "at her wits' end with this company". She had a flight booked from Guernsey to Gatwick on Monday for work but the flight was said she had received an email on the morning of the flight which told her it had been delayed but the airport's website showed the flight had been asking a customer advisor why she had not been told about the cancellation, she said she was told Aurigny had been trying to find out more Farrell said: "They didn't tell us - it's been so badly managed."It annoys me how little they care and how awful their customer service is."The only reason the flights were cancelled was because they don't have enough crew - they should have this under control."You're paying £150 one way with no baggage for a 40 minutes flight that then gets cancelled without them telling anyone," she added. An Aurigny spokesperson said new pilots were due to join the team from 1 July and in the shorter term it had brought in support from Avanti Air which "bolstered our current operational resilience".They added they were working with the firm which maintains, repairs and overhauls its aircraft to speed up the process."Additionally, we are actively engaging with our codeshare partner to improve their communication protocols when their own services are disrupted, which has been a source of some further and unnecessary challenges for our customers," they said. 'More communication needed' Joshua Pritchard was told via email that his flight to Guernsey from Manchester on Sunday had been cancelled, leaving him stranded in Manchester until said: "I don't think sending an email at 8 o'clock at night on a Saturday is giving people enough notice or warning."A text or something along those lines would work a lot better."There needs to be more communication at an earlier stage and signposting to alternative modes of transport."There should be more customer service and care for people who are stranded and don't know what to do." The Aurigny spokesperson said during May the company had landed 83% of its flights within 15 minutes of the scheduled arrival times because it had made changes to the flight programme "to better align with our available crew and aircraft resources".
BBC News
5 days ago
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Guernsey Airport lighting upgrade closes Port Soif car park
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Time Out
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JSX's new flight from Dallas to Santa Fe is the best, quickest way to escape the summer heat
Some cities come alive in the summer as people radiate with energy after a winter cooped up indoors. That's not the case in Dallas. We mourn the end of spring by pulling the shades, cranking up the AC and hunkering down for a few months of way-too-hot days and not-cool-enough nights. Icy margaritas help, but nothing solves the problem quite so effectively as skipping town. Summer road trips are always an option, but you have to drive a full day to make a dent in the temperature. The best bet: Hop on a plane to the mountains. That plan is now even easier because JSX just launched a new route from Dallas to Santa Fe. The brand-new itinerary takes travelers from Dallas Love Field directly to Santa Fe Regional Airport, rather than the larger but farther away Albuquerque Airport. So you can escape the summer heat and bask in the dry, desert climate at 7,000-feet elevation in about 1.5 hours. I was one of the first passengers to fly the new route, and I followed that up with a few days of reacquainting myself with Santa Fe, a city I've visited multiple times over the past decade. What's it like flying JSX? JSX flies out of a hangar that's separate from the main Dallas Love Field terminal. It has its own drop-off point, check-in desks and a comfortable lounge with plenty of seating, plus free drinks and snacks. The airline suggests showing up just 20 minutes before departure. I hate getting to airports too early, but this seemed extreme even for me. I showed up 40 minutes early and was the only passenger there, so my premature arrival was peaceful but unnecessary. There's no overhead storage space on the plane, so you'll check large bags before boarding (even the cheapest fare tier includes two free checked bags). It's quick, and bags are returned immediately upon exiting the plane, so there's no waiting at baggage claim before your trip can begin. The Embraer jet featured 30 comfortable seats in a 1-1 configuration. Seats on the right side of the plane include a console table and have some extra space to work or arrange your things, while the left side does not. Service was friendly and efficient, with flight attendants offering complimentary snacks and drinks, including alcohol. There's also free Starlink Wi-Fi, so it's easy to stay connected in the air if you need to work or want to stream a few episodes mid-flight. The JSX experience is the closest you can get to flying private without actually flying private. The price is more than a typical economy flight but usually less than flying business class—and exponentially less than actually taking a private charter (right now, fares throughout the summer start around $319 each way). And the in-flight experience coupled with the door-to-door time savings on both ends of the trip are well worth it. Where to stay in Santa Fe Santa Fe has dozens of hotels, many situated downtown around the iconic plaza, and several others located outside the main town or tucked into the hills. If you want a retreat-like experience, book a room at Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado. It's only 15 minutes from town but feels like a world away. The 65-room property is set on 57 rolling acres in the Sangre de Cristo foothills, and each casita-style room is spacious and comfortable, with patios and wood-burning fireplaces. When you're not in the room, you can hang at the pool, get a relaxing spa treatment or enjoy a sunset dinner at the restaurant, or head out on the attached Camino Encantado trail for a three-mile loop that takes you through desert landscapes and offers unobstructed views of the surrounding hills. With so much happening on property, there's no real reason to leave. But when you're ready to explore the town, the hotel offers a complimentary shuttle service that departs every hour and picks up on the half hour, so it's easy to get around without a car. If you want to stay right in town, you can't beat Rosewood Inn of the Anasazi. The boutique property has 58 guestrooms and suites, each featuring elements of Southwestern luxury, including custom furnishings, wood-beam ceilings and local art. It puts you right next to the plaza and is walkable to many good restaurants, but don't miss the restaurant right on site. New executive chef Cristian Pontiggia worked at Michelin-starred kitchens in Italy before coming to Santa Fe, and he got a James Beard nod for his local work at Sassella before taking the reins here. The menu features Italian dishes with Southwestern flair, like branzino empapelado, pappardelle bolognese made with locally sourced buffalo, and burrata caprese spiked with green chili honey. The drinks are just as good, as head bartender Jared Reeder has put together an excellent cocktail menu (try the seasonal spring Negroni featuring poblano and basil) and also hosts guided tequila and whiskey tastings. What to do in Santa Fe For starters, wander around and eat. Santa Fe is teeming with great restaurants, including upscale favorites like Sazón, Cafe Pasqual's, Geronimo and the Compound, as well as low-key picks with excellent food, like Horno, Zacatlán, Paper Dosa and Esquina Pizza. Some of the better cocktails are found at Palace, Tonic and Milk of the Poppy, which was opened by George R. R. Martin—yes, the Game of Thrones creator. Once you've had your fill of food and drinks, douse yourself in some culture via the New Mexico Museum of Art or the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. You can also check out the original Meow Wolf, the immersive, psychedelic art installation. Then get out of town and stretch your legs. Santa Fe and the surrounding area is filled with a variety of national parks, monuments and hiking spots that showcase the state's natural beauty. A few favorites include Bandelier National Monument (keep your eyes peeled for ancient cliff dwellings and petroglyphs), Valles Caldera National Preserve (a massive depression formed by a volcanic explosion) and Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, which is dotted with cone-shaped tent rock formations and looks like another planet. It's all just a quick flight from Dallas, a city with plenty to offer, but one that's conspicuously missing volcanic depressions and tent rocks. And hospitable summer weather.
