Heathrow flight route costs confidential - States

The States has refused to disclose how much the new flight route between Guernsey and London Heathrow will cost in its first year.

British Airways launched the route on 19 April, offering an additional flight option to London alongside Guernsey's States-owned airline Aurigny.

Deputy Andy Cameron asked a question about what financial support or discounts had been agreed between the States and British Airways, and what the projected costs were.

But the States Trading Supervisory Board (STSB) said the arrangement between the two parties was "commercially confidential".

It was revealed last week that Aurigny was forecast to make a £5m loss this year.

The STSB said: "The Committee for Economic Development (CfED) is the policy lead for air route development and was the lead committee for developing the London Heathrow service.

"Officers of Guernsey Ports worked with CfED on the technical, operational and commercial arrangements, including financial ones for Guernsey Airport.

"The commercial arrangements between the States of Guernsey and the airline are commercially confidential and so the STSB is unable to divulge the details."

The STSB was also asked whether Guernsey Ports' income would be damaged by the new flight route.

It said financial modelling had already factored-in additional gross revenue generated through the London Heathrow service, and the net revenue after Aurigny had been impacted.

"That modelling in a worst-case scenario suggested a net overall revenue gain to the ports over the term of the agreement," said the STSB.

"Guernsey Ports has not built in any reductions to their 2026 financial forecasts for revenue reductions as a result of the introduction of the London Heathrow service to date."

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