Press Release
Issued by Green Charter 2022.
June 26, 2018
Channel Island airline Waves has cancelled its flights and bookings until 1 September to take stock of its position in the current marketplace. All passengers with bookings during this period will be offered a full refund or the chance to rebook later in the year.
Waves founder Nick Magliocchetti said the business would refocus, taking time to strengthen its position in the market before recommencing operations in September.
“It has been a tumultuous 12 months,” Mr Magliocchetti said. “We have overcome every obstacle placed in our way, but we felt that the time was right to take a pause. Our priority now, as always, is our customers and we wish to apologise for the inconvenience caused by this news and reassure them that we will be back stronger than ever.”
During 2017 Waves raised local investment and started operations under the 2001 air taxi exemption regulations.
“When we launched in January last year we had overwhelming public and government support with all recognising how frustrating the lack of choice and flexibility is on the Channel Island routes. We challenged the status quo and introduced an entrepreneurial solution. We had expected to shake up the sector and within three months we took a small but significant stake in the inter-island market.”
Waves commenced commercial operations in October 2017 and, some several weeks later, was served notice as the interested party in a judicial review between another local operator, Blue Islands, and the States of Guernsey Transport Licencing Authority (TLA). Waves was required to remove individual seat sales in favour of whole aircraft charters during this inquiry and began the route licence application process; the TLA established the situation and ultimately awarded Waves unrestricted route licences on the Guernsey-Jersey and Guernsey-Alderney routes.
Mr Magliocchetti said: “The application process was lengthy and the delays damaged momentum at a time when Waves was gaining significant ground, which ultimately had a detrimental effect on the business, our staff and our customers. Waves has chosen to commit to providing the Channel Islands with an alternative air service so, without us, the real loser would be the travelling public and businesses who have supported us and are stuck with no real competition, inflexible timetables and poor customer service.
“We have said from the outset, and strongly maintain, that our distinctive and different model is perfectly suited to the Channel Islands and can, and should, be a complementary service to the existing operators.”
Mr Magliocchetti said Waves management was taking the next two months to restructure looking at expansion in both its fleet and its routes.
“Clearly we are the underdog and are fighting for the right of choice and convenience for the people of the Channel Islands” he said. “Guernsey has been giving a loud and consistent message that it is open for business and keen to attract forward-thinking entrepreneurs to come and live and work in the island; to stimulate competition and growth. Arguably the environment within which Waves has had to work over the last 18 months runs counter to this message.
“I am optimistic about the future and we have a lot to look forward to. Our recent appointment of Gus Paterson as our new CEO is a ringing endorsement of Waves by a man whose aviation expertise is beyond reproach.
“Now more than ever we need the support of our customers; the businesses and individuals that regularly fly with us and embrace our business model of an airline that is customer-centric, competitive and flexible.”
