After a summer of consultation with airlines and passenger groups, Economic Development are pushing ahead with their plan to liberalise the skies over Jersey – having received broad support for the initiative.
Although the committee does not yet want to repeal the law that forces it to issue permits to airlines flying to the UK, Isle of Man and Guernsey, it will presume that all applications should be granted.Still concerned over the effect of unfettered competition on cargo services to Jersey, EDC want to monitor the effects of their laissez-faire approach before formally repealing the air permit law.
‘My committee now consider that the interests of Island businesses, residents and visitors alike are best served by encouraging open competition and avoiding unnecessary costs both for the airlines and for the authorities,’ said committee president Deputy Gerald Voisin, who spoke last night at an open meeting of the Jersey Air Passengers Association.
‘This is in line with States economic policy generally and it will also bring the Island into line with the “”open skies”” policy applied by the European Union.
