Channel Island Transport Links Being Studied

by Carla Johnson, Investors Offshore.com, London

15 February 2008

Guernsey's Commerce and Employment Department has published a briefing paper on the licensing, regulation and development of air and sea links to the jurisdiction. Comments are requested by the end of February.

Commerce and Employment Minister, Deputy Stuart Falla explained that that the need to review the licensing and regulation of the routes was endorsed by the States in July.

"Air and sea links are a vital part of the "connectivity" with the outside world which we need to maintain and enhance if we are going to achieve our economic and other objectives," observed Deputy Falla.

The board will prepare a States report once comments have been received. The new Commerce and Employment Department will have to submit it to the States for debate later this year.

"In this way the new Board will be able to hit the ground running on these important issues," Deputy Falla stated.

Under the Department’s proposals, the air licensing process and policies should be revised and streamlined to make them less bureaucratic and more transparent.

Any conflicts of interest arising from the States’ ownership of Aurigny will be addressed.

The policy statement on sea links with the UK has been jointly agreed with the Jersey authorities. It recommends the extension of the current agreement with Condor for another five years. The service level agreement would be revised and streamlined.

Competition is not precluded, but any fresh application for CI-UK services would be assessed for the impact that the additional competition and expanded capacity could have on the market.

No single operator agreement is envisaged on French sea routes.

Consideration may also be given to strengthening statutory powers to underpin agreements relating to sea links, to more closely match Jersey’s ‘ramp permit’ legislation.

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