Aurigny's plan for minimising passenger disruption and delays and cancellations is about to come into effect.

The States-owned airline will fly to fewer destinations from tomorrow (1 June). CEO Nico Bezuidenhout explains why:

"We're taking the period between 1 June and 4 July as what could be called a firebreak, looking to consolidate some of our flying to fit with our available aircraft capacity."

The airline has struggled since early in the New Year with leased aircraft to replace those on planned maintenance not always being available as intended.

This has led to periods of delays and cancellations and the 'fire break' is designed to restore stability to the schedule for a period of five weeks, beginning on 1 June. Nico Bezuidenhout explains which routes will be amalgamated:

"We're consolidating routes which are nearby to each. Liverpool passengers to be accommodated on to Manchester, Exeter passengers consolidated on to Bristol and some level of consolidation between East Midlands and Birmingham."

London routes are mainly unaffected by the slimmed down schedule, as are the Paris and holiday flights to other European destinations.

The airline is leasing several aircraft to cover its ATRs which are in maintenance following a ruling by the manufacturer and affects all ATRs, not just Aurigny's.

Nico Bezuidenhout says the latest addition has less passenger capacity:

"It's a smaller gauge 34 seater Saab 340. We're forced into this position given the shortage of wet lease capacity across Europe and the UK."

Aurigny plans to lease two ATRs which will bring its fleet to five, by early September.