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Once upon a time, Alderney Airport was the first – and only – airport in the Channel Islands.
Built in 1935, the neighbouring islands were only connected by air when Jersey Airport opened in 1937 and Guernsey in 1939.
Now, 91 years later, the residents of Alderney face being cut off from its neighbours for an ‘extended period.’
It’s all subject to an ongoing debate scheduled for February, but the airport’s runway could be undergoing a considerable revamp.
At the moment, it measures 877 metres, and while the work will keep this length, it’ll widen it by five metres, from 18 to 23.
The taxiway will be resurfaced, and the lighting systems updated so that planes will be able to fly in poor weather conditions without much disruption, as is currently often the case. It’s all part of a drive towards making the airport more modern.
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In 2024, the Alderney Airport served 47,736 passengers. The 2023 Census indicated that the population of Alderney was just 2,167.
When will Alderney Airport close and why?
Officials are yet to decide whether the airport will close or whether the work will be carried out with mild disruptions to the regular schedule, but the government has said that a closure would ‘complete the works in the shortest time and in the most effective way.’
However, should the closure of the runway go ahead, they insist that plenty of notice will be given, and replacement services will be put on, including provisions for emergency medical situations.
Work is scheduled to start in April 2027, with a view to completion by the following December, meaning that if the closure goes ahead, the airport will be closed for eight months.
‘This project is vital to maintaining Alderney’s connectivity for the benefit of the island’s community,’ deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez, president of the Policy & Resources Committee, said earlier this month, noting that while there will likely be ‘some disruption’ for Alderney’s residents, any delays would risk pushing the project back to 2028.
‘The approach we’re recommending aims to deliver a compliant, practical and proportionate solution within the current fiscal constraints. Delegated authority to approve the business case and early contractor engagement will be key to the most timely and cost-effective delivery.’
‘It’s going to be pretty brutal’
One Alderney resident, who is a pilot and flying instructor, is concerned about the impact that the potential closure could have on his fellow islanders.
‘I think it’s going to be pretty brutal for the people on the island to be cut off, and there’s been nothing said yet about how we would get to Guernsey or the mainland,’ Chris Blythe told the BBC.
‘From the point of view of the people who will be working on the project, there’s going to be a whole load of workers…who are going to be trapped on the island with us.’
He added that, at the moment, travel to and from the island is ‘prohibitively expensive’ for most of its population.
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How much does it cost to fly to Alderney Airport?
As it stands, there is no direct flight from Alderney Airport to London.
Passengers need to change in Guernsey for an onward route to Gatwick.
Prices for a return journey, departing on March 9 and returning on March 16, currently come in at £338 with Aurigny Air Services.
A direct journey to Southampton is an option, with return flights on the same dates costing around £314.
Comparatively, easyJet flights to Amsterdam from London Southend – a journey that takes around the same time – cost £70 return.
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