27 August 2020
Press Release
Aurigny Doing All They Can During Regrettable Alderney Cancellations
Aurigny have had to make the regrettable decision to cancel some flights on Friday and possibly Sunday to and from Alderney due to crew shortages outside of its control.
Customers on cancelled flight will be offered a full refund or an alternative journey on boats that Aurigny have chartered to assist in this predicament.
For Dornier flights to run safely and operate in accordance with regulations, a First Officer and a Captain conduct each flight, both of these must be current and maintain essential training. Unfortunately, a catalogue of events has left Aurigny with, a shortage of First Officers for a number of flights, they are:-
- Crew in quarantine following period of essential training overseas (in Germany)
- Un-expected resignation of a First Officer
- Unable to use UK contractors due to quarantine restrictions
- Delays in training of newly recruited pilots due to Covid – because of restrictions on access to European simulators (the only simulator available to us)
- Pilots flying the maximum permitted hours
All of the above were just about manageable but unfortunately one of our crew has been signed off sick this week and is unable to fly.
Mark Darby, Chief Executive said: “The crew operating the Alderney route have been busier than ever this summer and I would like to personally thank them all for their hard work. It is hugely regrettable for Aurigny that this is happening on the last Bank Holiday of the summer when many people had booked Staycations in Alderney and Guernsey. We are doing everything we can to help make alternative arrangements for all of our customers.”
Aurigny would like to sincerely apologise to anyone disrupted by these flight cancellations.