Guernsey, UK-based regional carrier Aurigny Air Services last month took delivery of its first new ATR 72-500 in accordance with a firm contract it signed for a pair of the Franco-Italian turboprops in the summer of 2007. Configured with 72 seats and equipped with ATR’s “Elegance” cabin, the pair of new ATRs will replace two of Aurigny’s three aging ATR 72-200s.

Channel Islands-based Aurigny last month received a license to fly a new route between Guernsey and East Midlands Airport once a day starting May 1. On the same day the airline also plans to start linking the island of Jersey with London Stansted Airport–an important hub for low-fare airlines.

Aurigny Air Services serves as something of a lifeline to local communities in Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney to points in England and a single destination in France, namely Pleurtuit Airport in Dinard. Now wholly owned by the states of Guernsey, it flies eight
15-passenger Britten Norman BN2A Mk. III Trislanders along with
the three ATRs.