Deputy concerned about Aurigny wet lease costs

Titan Airways is one of a number of companies used by Aurigny for wet lease arrangements

A former hotelier and politician has asked a series of questions about the cost of arrangements by Guernsey States-owned airline Aurigny to wet-lease planes.

A wet lease in aviation is an agreement where one airline provides an aircraft, crew and maintenance to another.

A number of Aurigny's planes are currently out of action, including one after a "serious incident" now being investigated by the Air Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB).

Deputy Simon Vermeulen has asked the States Trading Supervisory Board (STSB) about politicians' confidence in the airline's board, its financial position and said he was "concerned" about the costs of recent wet leases. Aurigny has been contacted for comment.

His questions also touch on whether the company made a profit last year after the airline's CEO Nico Bizuidenhout said he expected the company to break even in 2025.

Deputy Simon Vermeulen has been a regular critic of the States-owned airline

In an interview with the BBC, Vermeulen said taxpayers "had to know" about the costs of wet leases, "especially when we're asking taxpayers to pay a GST [goods and sales tax]".

"We can't afford to run businesses badly on the island."

In 2024, a series of what the company called "black swan" events, led to the airline losing £6.5m.

Much of the losses came from the costs of wet-leasing planes.

Vermeulen criticised the reliability of ATR aircraft, which make up the majority of Aurigny's fleet, after it sold its only Embraer jet in 2024.

"Where's the break-even position, or even - dare I say it - profit, which has been alluded to over many years but which we never see?" he asked.

He expressed concerns about the lack of available Aurigny aircraft in the coming months.

Vermeulen asked: "We've got the tourist season coming on. Where are the planes? Where are the crews?"

The deputy has submitted six questions to STSB, which oversees Aurigny on behalf of taxpayers:

STSB has 15 "clear days" to respond to the questions.

Vermeulen has also asked the Committee for Economic Development about progress on a new air policy framework.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.