TAFF | Sat 24th July 2010
Guersey States bought Aurigny for good reasons. To guard the Gatwick slots, and to maintain competition on all inter-island routes. Those reasons are still valid today, so the sale/merger is a mistake.

What Guersey States should do is ensure that Aurigny is managed much better than it is, and otherwise leave it alone. It was poor management that contributed to the heavy losses, and that has not been changed.

Is that too much to ask from Guersey States?

Rocky | Tue 20th July 2010
As a regular visitor to Alderney for the past 25 years, I have always flown with Aurigny and cannot fault their staff or Service, my only complaint is the cost. A daily ferry service to mainland would boost tourism and support the new quay venture. It would also encourage more families to visit. Alderney has so much to offer the holiday maker, it would be a shame to see infrastructure suffer through lack of the tourist pound.

Rocky | Tue 20th July 2010
As a regular visitor to Alderney for the past 25 years, I have always flown with Aurigny and cannot fault their staff or Service, my only complaint is the cost. A daily ferry service to mainland would boost tourism and support the new quay venture. It would also encourage more families to visit. Alderney has so much to offer the holiday maker, it would be a shame to see infrastructure suffer through lack of the tourist pound.

Steve | Sun 18th July 2010
I agree with the comments made by DayDream Believer 100%. The staff are outstanding and its always a pleasure to fly with Aurigny.

Moreover,if the merger goes ahead and the Southampton-Alderney route is scrapped then this will cause a major loss in Alderney Tourism. Having the choice of two independent airlines is more likely to attract first time visitors to the island and once Alderney fever is caught, like me there is no cure and you have to keep coming back.

To the dedicated staff from both airlines, keep your heads up whatever happens, there are many more like me who support you.

DayDream Believer | Sat 17th July 2010
I have flown to Alderney about 10 times now and have always flown Aurigny as Blue Islands were always more expensive. The whole experience of flying with Aurigny from Southampton has been great and their staff first class, both at Southampton and Alderney airports. Whilst i support the Facebook campaign it will do little to stop any merger, as with all mergers this is about money, dearer prices, less staff and poorer service, in the name of profit.
Are your elected State members strong enough and willing enough to fight for the voters, i doubt it on what i have previously read about them. Lobby the members. make their lives hell until they are forced to do something, it's probably your only chance.

Beardy | Sat 17th July 2010
In defense of Healthspan, they may well have no intention of closing the Southampton route. But as a business they are not known for being Alderney-centric, try booking a room at their hotel in Alderney via their reservations office in Guernsey and you will see what I mean.

None of the proposed buy-out is about Alderney, even when the States of Guernsey bought Aurigny it had nothing to to with Alderney but was to protect the Guernsey to Gatwick route. So long as Bluerigny keep that up then Guernsey will be happy.

As with all things Alderney has a 50% voice about what happens in Alderney and a 5% say when it comes to the Bailiwick.

With Aurigny and GST, are the States of Guernsey testing the 1948 agreement to destruction?

Steve | Fri 16th July 2010
I fly to Alderney every year for my annual holiday and have used both airlines and been very happy with the service from both of them. Blue Islands when they flew from Shoreham which is very near my home and now Aurigny from Southampton.
If the merge between the two keeps the jobs from both sides safe, air fare prices reasonable and flight avaliability from the current airports remain then maybe.
But in reality any merge is centred around money (reducing running costs and increasing profits)which will have an effect on the points mentioned.
Also having competition between two airlines is better for the island.

Beardy | Fri 16th July 2010
I am not sure which is the worst news of the week, GST or no more Aurigny!

The Southampton route would close, no doubt in my mind.

Ed | Thu 15th July 2010
Have found that others are against it too! Join the facebook campaign here: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Say-NO-to-Blue-IslandsAurigny-merger/131972280172499?v=wall&ref=ts and sign the petition here: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saynotoblueislands/

Chris West | Thu 15th July 2010
As a visitor to Aldernery, practically every year for nearly 40 years, it has been evident that to grow the tourist industry the route by air has become increasingly expensive and precarious. It is not possible to ecomonically shift the volume of goods or passenger traffic due to the limited length of the runway and size of the aircraft that can use it.

The logical route to not only supply the island's need for food and materials but also pasenger traffic is by a regular ship or ferry service, which will make good use of the new quay.

Hello | Thu 15th July 2010
Competition has certainly brought some benefits and kept the Aurigny management on it's toes. We've recently seen them introduce a frequent flyer programme.

However, with a limited market and rising fixed costs this probably makes sense.

What we do need is a guarantee written into the contract of minimum service levels. No doubt Guernsey will insist the 5 slots at Gatwick are retained and used and likewise our direct service to Southampton should be sacrosanct.

With a virtual monopoly the OUR should regulate fares.

Ed | Wed 14th July 2010
I would definetly agree with you. A merger would be dangerous - combine two loss making airlines and what do you get? One bigger airline making bigger losses. Congratulations to the States of Guernsey on outright suicide.

Ed | Wed 14th July 2010
I would definetly agree with you. A merger would be dangerous - combine two loss making airlines and what do you get? One bigger airline making bigger losses. Congratulations to the States of Guernsey on outright suicide.

Anne | Wed 14th July 2010
This could have a disastrous effect on Alderney. We would probably have to fly to guernsey to get to southampton like the blue island passengers do now. I really hope the states don't go through with this. It will effect us more in Alderney than any where else. We have such a fantastic service here from Aurigny and nobody could replace those guys behind the desk here. Is there ever any good news for Alderney from the bl...y States of Guernsey?!!!