Aurigny and Skybus announce fleet changes to improve Alderney air services
- Second Twin Otter aircraft will be stationed in Guernsey from Easter weekend to provide backup for Alderney services
- Two dedicated Twin Otter aircraft in Aurigny livery will operate all Alderney services from October 2026
- Weather conditions caused more than 80% of flight delays in first two months of 2026, with 137 flights cancelled
- Dedicated crew recruitment completed with training expected to finish by end of June
- Over 14,000 passengers booked for summer season following promotional campaigns
Aurigny and Skybus have announced steps to strengthen air services to Alderney following community concerns raised during a demonstration at the island's airport on Sunday.
Nico Bezuidenhout, Aurigny's Chief Executive Officer, made a personal commitment to provide updates on the airline's progress in ensuring reliable services after visiting Alderney to address concerns from the local community.
The airlines revealed that weather conditions have been responsible for more than 80 per cent of flight delays during the first two months of 2026, with 137 flights cancelled due to adverse weather. However, controllable flight disruptions have shown a marked decline since the introduction of the Twin Otter aircraft on 1 November 2025.
Bezuidenhout expressed the airline's regret for inconvenience suffered by the community due to flight disruption during the aircraft transition period, which began in November to secure the long-term future of Alderney's air services.
Fleet expansion plans
Following a meeting between Aurigny Chairman Kevin George, Bezuidenhout, Skybus CEO Jonathan Hinkles, and Stuart Reid, CEO of the Skybus holding company, both airlines have committed to fleet improvements.
Skybus confirmed that a second Twin Otter aircraft will be stationed in Guernsey from the Easter holiday weekend, providing operational backup for Alderney services with two aircraft in Skybus livery.
The first Twin Otter aircraft (MSN299) dedicated permanently to Aurigny operations is expected to receive final approvals from the UK Civil Aviation Authority within days. The newly rebuilt aircraft, registered G-NETS, will initially operate Skybus services for six to eight weeks before arriving in Guernsey in late May to become the primary aircraft for Alderney routes.
A sister aircraft (MSN 664) has been secured by Skybus and will arrive at Land's End at the end of May for re-certification. Following its registration and bedding-in period, this second aircraft will be assigned to Alderney services from October 2026.
By October 2026, all Alderney services will be operated by two dedicated Twin Otter aircraft displaying Aurigny's livery. A Skybus-liveried Twin Otter will serve as backup during maintenance periods or if both Aurigny aircraft become unserviceable.
Crew training and recruitment
Recruitment for dedicated crew to serve Alderney operations has been completed, with training progressing and expected to finish by the end of June. The training programme has faced delays due to poor weather conditions and limited aircraft availability following damage caused by Storm Goretti. Skybus has contracted additional training resources to accelerate the process.
Until the end of June, lifeline services will be supported by dedicated Alderney crew completing their training, supplemented when necessary by qualified Skybus crews.
Commercial improvements
Since November 2025, Aurigny's commercial activity has focused on increasing passenger numbers for the new Twin Otter services. Alderney routes now feature more frequently in promotional campaigns, and extra capacity has been added for Alderney Week.
The promotional efforts have delivered 1,700 additional passengers, with over 14,000 passengers already booked for the coming summer season, representing a significant improvement on bookings at the same time last year.
Medical and operational capabilities
The medevac service is now fully operational with a second stretcher fit ordered. As of 24 March, there have been no callouts since the new service was implemented.
Addressing community concerns, Aurigny and Skybus confirmed that the DHC 6 Twin Otter has the same crosswind limitations as the previous Dornier 228 NG aircraft, identical night-time flying capability, and superior performance in wet weather conditions at Alderney Airport.
The airlines acknowledged that payload remains constrained due to fuel availability at Alderney Airport, which can impact passenger and baggage capacity, particularly on Southampton routes when extra fuel must be carried due to weather conditions. Both airlines fully support the restoration of a reliable fuel supply at Alderney.
Kevin George, Chairman at Aurigny, stated: "Both the Board and Management at Aurigny take the concerns raised by the local population and political representatives in Alderney extremely seriously. While our controllable performance has clearly been better since the introduction of the Twin Otter compared to the same period last year, we are determined that future performance will build further on these foundations."
He added: "Our aim is for all stakeholders to share our confidence in the future and that is why we are taking immediate measures together with Skybus to strengthen operational robustness and ensure operational performance to the highest standards well into the future."
A meeting took place between the States of Alderney and management from both airlines yesterday afternoon to discuss ongoing issues. A joint press release regarding the outcomes will be published shortly.
Q&A
Q: When will the second Twin Otter aircraft be available in Guernsey?
A: The second Twin Otter aircraft will be stationed in Guernsey from the Easter holiday weekend, providing operational backup for Alderney services.
Q: What caused most of the flight delays in early 2026?
A: Weather conditions were responsible for more than 80% of flight delays during the first two months of 2026, with 137 flights cancelled due to adverse weather.
Q: When will all Alderney services be operated by dedicated Twin Otter aircraft?
A: By October 2026, all Alderney services will be operated by two dedicated Twin Otter aircraft displaying Aurigny's livery, with a Skybus-liveried aircraft as backup.
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