Aurigny Commercial Director Malcolm Coupar says:

‘This is an important time for the island’s visitor economy and a very busy period for Aurigny. We operate many extra flights to and from Southampton to bring people to the festivities, and this traditionally generates many empty seats going in the opposite direction.

‘For some islanders this is the perfect time to get away and visit friends and relatives and we have looked to make as many seats as possible available at the special price. The service to Southampton is a life-line route and we are keen to give Alderney residents as much value as we can.

‘Across our network, the residents of Alderney uniquely benefit from the facility to purchase web fares at our airport ticket office and pay by cash to avoid debit and credit card charges.

‘We have senior citizen’s discounts and children’s discounts on Guernsey services, no charges for unaccompanied minors on Guernsey & Southampton services, transportation of pets to and from the UK, no change of booking fees on Guernsey & Southampton flights and now this Alderney week special offer.’

Tickets are available exclusively on Aurigny.com from 26th May 2011 by entering the promotion code “escape”. Bookings are subject to availability and must be made by the 15th of July 2011

Business Plus provides an efficient system to simplify the booking and payment procedures, management, tracking and reporting processes involved in travel between UK business centres as well as other Channel Islands.

The system provides as much or as little management information reporting – exportable to a spreadsheet – that you want. And it’s all securely passworded.For more details visit www.aurigny.com/b2e/

Flight Forward can only be used at the airport of departure on the day of departure for an earlier flight. If you wish to change your flight in advance of arriving at the airport or take a later flight, you must use our normal change of booking process.

‘For those not travelling with children there is still the option to use Flight Forward but there is a possibility that you may save money by using our normal change of booking facility.This would be the case if the fare you originally paid was still available on the flight you want to change to. Ask at our ticket desk and they will be able to determine which option will be the lower priced,” said Mr Hart.

Adults or children travelling without an accompanying adult pay £40 per person. Children under 18 years are free, provided they are travelling with at least one adult on the same booking. This scheme is available on the whole of the Aurigny network, although currently it is free to change flights on the day on interisland
services.

If you would like to use this service in London Gatwick, go to the Skybreaks ticket sales desk at the South Terminal. If arriving into Manchester, London Stansted, Bristol or East Midlands, go to the Menzies ticket desk.

Based on a ‘points per flight system’, the reward scheme is more flexible than other airlines providing achievable redemption levels and the ability to ‘pool’ points with six other family members.

‘We launched the scheme in early May and within a few days more than 1,000 people had signed-up. At the time of going to print we were heading close to 4,000 sign-ups,’ said Aurigny commercial director, Malcolm Coupar.

‘We wanted to provide a scheme that really did reward our loyal customers and this response has shown just how much passengers wanted it. By pooling points with family members you can also claim reward flights even faster.’

The scheme comes at a time when the aviation industry is under increasing pressure from economic woes to high fuel prices and the disruption caused by the volcanic ash cloud.

‘Times are not easy for airlines at the moment but that does not mean that passengers and, in particular, our Channel Island supporters should not be rewarded for flying with Aurigny. Our website, aurigny.com, is a great selling tool for us and we are delighted to be able to expand its scope to run this scheme in a user-friendly manner,’ added Mr Coupar.

The booking process is extremely customer friendly and
travellers will be able to read other people’s comments on
particular hotels. The service also provides an overall score
system based on traveller’s satisfaction.

“The Grenoble region has many miles of wonderful ski
slopes,” says Malcolm Hart of Aurigny. “It is perfect for both
beginners and experts. Our flights are truly direct – that
means no stop-offs, no connecting flights and no overnight
stays en route, with a flight time of under two hours.

“You can also pre-book your skis in advance onto the flight by
calling 01481 822 886 and we have a free baggage allowance
too – up to 20kgs checked in and 10kgs hand luggage.”

All prices are each way including taxes and are bookable
online with www.aurigny.com. Complete ski holidays are also
available at holidaydirectski.com

There is more to this great city than cricket and Robin Hood and with Aurigny’s daily flights to East Midlands it is accessed easily and in comfort. The Victoria Centre is a large indoor mall and home to 120 shops and stores while Westfield Broadmarsh has over 80. The Exchange & The FH Mall has many stylish outlets gathered beneath its elegant glass vaulted roof.

The area around Low Pavement and Bridlesmith Gate is a haven for fans of designer fashions, with exclusive names rubbing shoulders with one another along the historic cobbled streets. Nottingham is the capital of the East Midlands and has one of the most sophisticated urban environments with a £200 million canal quarter, more café-bars and elegant restaurants than any comparable city and an enviable reputation for clubs, theatres, cinemas and galleries.

Of course East Midlands airport is not just handy for Nottingham but for Derby and Leicester too where there is also excellent shopping to be had. Don’t forget we do not charge for baggage which is a bonus when
retail therapy is on the agenda.

Our service between Guernsey and East Midlands has been running now since May and we have been delighted with your reaction to it. Take advantage of it this Christmas and here’s to a happy and healthy
new year. No matter where you’re going today, I hope you enjoy flying with Aurigny.

Malcolm Hart
Managing Director

He moved to South Africa aged 17, learnt to fly and played polo to a high standard. During the Second World War Sir Derrick served with the South African Irish Regiment and then with the South African Air Force and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for ‘gallantry’. After the war he returned to England and attended Cirencester Agricultural College and became a farmer in the Hereford area. During the annual cricket match between the college and Gloucestershire Sir Derrick caught the eye of legendary spinner, Tom Goddard, by hitting him all over the park. Within a season this seasoned amateur became captain of the county playing his last game in September 1952.

In 1968, Sir Derrick set up Aurigny Air Services after being approached by the States of Alderney. Malcolm Hart says that the cricketer, farmer, war hero and business man has left an extraordinary legacy: “Sir Derrick was a fascinating man from another time. I got to know him quite well and last year while we were planning our 40th anniversary celebrations I learned a lot about his early years and the setting up of the company. I was fascinated to learn that he was once a test-pilot, his brother married one of Winston Churchill’s daughters and Lord Kitchener was one of his godfathers.

The legacy he has left Alderney and the Channel Islands in the shape of Aurigny is quite remarkable. How many other small island communities of Alderney’s size and population could boast its own airline which employs so many people?  Aurigny is one of the oldest commercial airlines in the world and it is down to Sir Derrick’s foresight, and his father’s racing colours, that ‘the little yellow plane’ has played such an important part in Channel Island life for so long.

“On behalf of all of Aurigny’s air crew and ground staff we would like to express our sadness at the news and send our condolences to Sir Derrick’s family.”

You can now see Aurigny on Twitter and Facebook. See the Links Section. Please tell us what you want to see on it. 

Best regards

Roger @ Aurigny