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AIRPORT officials have knocked back plans to launch direct links to the Costa del Sol.
Flybe revealed it had recently approached the States to set up new routes from Guernsey to Malaga and Alicante.
But it rejected the proposals, blaming the added cost of running the airport for longer hours and the noise of late-night aircraft.
Ian Taylor, the low cost airline’s general manager for market development, is frustrated that its ambitions have been blocked. He believed that the States needed to take a good look at what it wanted from its air services.
‘I have approached the authorities in Jersey and Guernsey for two European services which would have been launched next year,’ he said.
‘This would mean that the airport would be open later at night and earlier in the morning.
‘They will not consider it for operational reasons because they are not prepared to open the airport for longer hours.
‘But sooner or later they will have to face the difficult decision about what they actually want from air routes on the island.’
Earlier this year, Flybe directors trumpeted a new link to the UK with the arrival next year of a Norwich route. But with their eyes set on the Continent, they have asked the States to weigh up the future of the airport.
Mr Taylor said if the plans had been given the nod, islanders could have set their sights further afield.
‘At the moment, we have two aircraft that are sat in Guernsey overnight doing nothing,’ said Mr Taylor.
‘Many people in the Channel Islands wish they had direct links to Europe, but because of the curfew, the authorities will not allow it.’
Airport and airline officials came to the table nearly a month ago, but Mr Taylor said there was no point pursuing more European flights.
‘It’s frustrating but more than that, it is disappointing. We are launching services elsewhere and it is what people want.’
The Public Services Department said that in future, sunshine air links could be still on the cards. In a statement, a spokesman said the proposals came at a time when it was not possible to fund the cost of the service.
He said it was regrettable that the proposal had to be turned down.
‘Guernsey Airport welcomed the recent approach from Flybe, which was considering operating direct flights to Spain during summer 2006. The Public Services Department is certain such services would be popular with islanders.
‘It was therefore with some regret that the proposal was rejected on the proposed timings.
‘The cost of opening the airport for the additional hours and potential requirement to employ additional air control staff to cover night flights meant that support of this particular proposal was not possible.’
The spokesman said the disturbance to homeowners in the area was taken into consideration and if the timing of flights could be revised, then it would go back to the drawing board.
‘The proposal would have involved an aircraft arriving in Guernsey very early in the morning, which would have caused some environmental disturbance to anyone living in the flight path, and this factor was also taken into account.
‘If the timings could be rescheduled to within normal operating hours, then the proposal would be considered again.’
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