Air Alderney (London Biggin Hill) has postponed the launch of its planned helicopter service between the Channel isles of Alderney and Jersey given a shortage of check-in desks at the former's airport, the Jersey Evening Post has reported.
"Due to the length of time this is taking, we are sadly and rather frustratingly, unable to confirm start dates of our operations. Without a check-in desk, we cannot accommodate our passengers. Once the location of the check-in area is agreed we will need some time to equip this area accordingly," an Air Alderney spokesperson said.
The Guernsey airport authorities, which also operate the Alderney airport, have said they are working to accommodate the needs of the carrier and added that the obstacles are not "insurmountable".
The helicopter service was tentatively planned to launch in March 2018 using an Eurocopter EC155 chartered from Heli Holland Airservice. It was already a temporary solution as the carrier had previously hit procedural obstacles with obtaining an own licence to commence scheduled commercial operations from Guernsey's Directorate of Civil Aviation and had to postpone its fixed-wing flights.
The carrier planned to apply for an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) through Guernsey-based company 2-REG. However, under new Guernsey rules, carriers with AOCs issued by 2-REG will no longer be granted licences. Air Alderney has said it plans to pursue an AOC through 2-REG nonetheless, but will also re-register its sole aircraft, an BN-2 2-BILL (msn 2119) with Denmark's Benair.
The carrier has already received route authorities to conduct scheduled passenger and cargo services from Alderney to Jersey, Cherbourg, and Shoreham by Sea. Air Alderney also plans to fly to Lee-on-Solent. The carrier also received freight-only route authority for a Alderney-Guernsey cargo service.
According to the ch-aviation capacity module, Alderney, the smaller of the two main Channel isles constituting the British Crown Dependency of Guernsey, is currently connected to Guernsey and Southampton by Aurigny Air Services. No other airline operates scheduled services out of the airport.
