Three local residents from Alderney have put forward an eight-point plan designed to improve air services at Alderney Airport, doing so without needing to extend the runway. In a letter sent to all members of the States of Guernsey and the States of Alderney, the proposal draws inspiration from the “Scottish Model,” which successfully connects the remote Highlands and Islands to their communities.
The States of Alderney have shown interest in this proposal but emphasized that substantial work is necessary before it can be taken into serious consideration. This initiative has been introduced by the Alderney Air Transport Group, which includes local leaders Roger Dadd, Rod Paris, and Malcolm Matthews, all of whom have experience in air transport operations.
In an exclusive interview, Mr. Dadd, founder of Channel Islands Air Search, shared the group’s vision: “Our aim is to make sure Alderney is served by a reliable air service, providing more frequent flights, greater seat capacity, and the flexibility to meet seasonal demand—all with the necessary aircraft and crews based right here in Alderney.”
He acknowledged that while the plan may not address everyone’s needs, it is inspired by the Scottish Highlands and Islands initiative and is specifically tailored for a tight-knit community of around 2,000 residents.
A spokesperson for the States remarked, “We value public input and appreciate the group’s proposal, which we will take into account as we develop plans to tackle our connectivity issues. However, a successful air transport model cannot be fully realized until we have definitive information on the runway’s dimensions. Until then, these concepts remain theoretical rather than actionable business strategies.”
The future of the runway is likely to be a key topic at the upcoming States of Alderney meeting, expected to occur by the end of the year. For ongoing updates, be sure to follow BBC Guernsey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook, and feel free to send any story ideas to [email protected].
