Air links 'key priority' for development president

The new president of the Committee for Economic Development has said Guernsey needs to "reduce reliance on Aurigny".

Deputy Sasha Kazantseva-Miller was elected as the president of the committee at the beginning of July, replacing Deputy Neil Inder.

She said reviewing air policy framework of the island was one of the "key priorities" for the committee in "the next six months or so".

Kazantseva-Miller also highlighted air policy framework, cruise ship investment and changes to shared taxation as other areas of interest.

Speaking to BBC Radio Guernsey, Kazantseva-Miller said: "I believe we need to reduce our reliance on Aurigny.

"The industry, especially the finance industry, is very strong on their asks that we need Heathrow connectivity and it has to be with a significant carrier like British Airways or another carrier.

"I think that's something we really have to work very hard to ensure we can get, if we do that it will have implications on the wider connectivity framework."

In June, Aurigny failed in its bid to secure additional slots at London Heathrow and Gatwick airports, according to Airport Coordination Limited, external (ACL).

Kazantseva-Miller said she did not think the failed bid would "be detrimental in any way, shape or form" to the airline's plans for next year and was "part of the regular slot bidding that all airlines do".

She said: "[I want to] really progress the finance development strategy, look at the air policy framework and really prepare us for the next tourism season the best we can."

The London School of Economics alumnus said the committee was also looking to develop a cruise strategy.

"I don't have a specific goal in mind but I think one of the issues is that the bigger cruise ships offer so much on board there's less incentive to spend on shore," she said.

"I think niche cruise ships are something we should invest in."

Kazantseva-Miller said her priorities started with "building a really good team and making sure we've got a really good working relationship with officers but also all the industry bodies and representatives".

"I think if we've got a good team pulling in the right direction I think we can achieve a lot and really continue building on some of the foundations we laid last term," she said.

Follow BBC Guernsey on X and Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].