New Milestone for Guernsey’s Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion

Post originally Published April 22, 2024 || Last Updated April 22, 2024

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New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Aurigny's Fleet Transformation: Transitioning to ATR 72-600 Aircraft


Aurigny, the Guernsey-based airline, is undergoing a significant fleet transformation by transitioning from Embraer 195 jets to the more cost-effective and fuel-efficient ATR 72-600 turboprops.

This strategic move is part of the airline's five-year plan to streamline its operations and enhance the customer experience.

The transition, expected to be completed in 2024, aligns with Aurigny's commitment to environmental sustainability by reducing carbon emissions through a greener fleet.

The ATR 72-600 aircraft burns up to 40% less fuel and emits 40% less CO2 compared to the Embraer 195 regional jet that Aurigny is replacing.

Aurigny's fleet simplification strategy involves swapping its single Embraer 195 jet for two more cost-effective and efficient ATR 72-600 turboprops.

The airline has received approval from the States of Guernsey to initiate this fleet transformation project, showcasing the government's support for Aurigny's sustainability efforts.

Aurigny has ordered three brand new ATR 72-600 aircraft directly from the French turboprop manufacturer, indicating a substantial investment in the new fleet.

The transition to ATR 72-600s is expected to be completed by 2024, aligning with Aurigny's five-year strategy to operate a more streamlined and efficient service.

Despite the ATR 72-600's smaller passenger capacity compared to the Embraer 195, the airline believes the turboprop's superior fuel efficiency and lower operating costs will better serve its routes and improve the overall customer experience.

What else is in this post?

  1. New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Aurigny's Fleet Transformation: Transitioning to ATR 72-600 Aircraft
  2. New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Wet-Leasing ATR72s: Retiring the Embraer 195 Jet
  3. New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Operational Challenges and Disruptions: Addressing Technical Issues and Wet-Lease Capacity Constraints
  4. New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Streamlining the Fleet: Replacing Embraer 195 with ATR 72 Turboprops
  5. New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Improving Efficiency and Customer Experience: Simplifying Maintenance and Training
  6. New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Enhancing Route Network and Pricing Strategy: Aligning with Customer Demand

New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Wet-Leasing ATR72s: Retiring the Embraer 195 Jet


Aurigny Air Services, the Guernsey-based regional airline, is retiring its sole Embraer 195 jet and replacing it with two leased ATR 72 turboprops as part of a fleet renewal and ACMI (wet-leasing) expansion strategy.

The airline has cited unexpected technical issues with the Embraer 195 and the inability of a wet-lease provider to deliver as reasons for this decision.

The sale of the Embraer 195 jet has been approved by the States of Guernsey, and the airline aims to create a more cost-effective and efficient operation with the ATR 72 aircraft, which are better suited for its shorter routes.

The Embraer 195 jet, which Aurigny Air Services has operated since 2014, is being retired due to unexpected technical issues that have caused recent disruptions to the airline's operations.

Aurigny Air Services plans to replace the Embraer 195 with two leased ATR 72 turboprop aircraft, which are better suited for the airline's shorter routes and are expected to reduce fuel usage per passenger.

The decision to retire the Embraer 195 and transition to the ATR 72s is part of a fleet renewal and ACMI (wet-leasing) expansion strategy for Aurigny Air Services.

The sale of the Embraer 195 jet has been approved by the States' Trading Supervisory Board, and no redundancies are expected as staff can be retrained to operate the ATR aircraft.

Aurigny Air Services has already started wet-leasing ATR 72s from a third-party lessor as part of its fleet renewal and ACMI expansion plans.

The airline has also wet-leased a DHC-8-Q400 from Avanti Air and may source additional ACMI capacity if needed to support its operations.

The transition to the ATR 72s is expected to create a more cost-effective and efficient operation for Aurigny Air Services, which aims to improve the customer experience on its shorter routes.

New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Operational Challenges and Disruptions: Addressing Technical Issues and Wet-Lease Capacity Constraints


New Milestone for Guernsey’s Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion

Aurigny Air Services, a Guernsey-based airline, has faced recent operational challenges and disruptions due to technical issues with its E195 aircraft fleet and capacity constraints with its wet-lease partner Eastern Airways.

In response, the airline plans to expand its in-house ATR72 fleet to overcome these challenges and ensure more reliable service.

Industry experts emphasize the importance of operational excellence, resilience, and adaptability in addressing disruptions.

Businesses must be prepared to navigate uncertainty and complexity, plan for potential threats, and build robust systems to maintain operational continuity in the face of accelerating global disruptions.

Aurigny Air Services' recent operational disruptions have been primarily attributed to technical issues with its soon-to-be-retired Embraer E195 aircraft fleet, which have proven challenging to maintain.

The airline's reliance on wet-lease capacity from Eastern Airways has been a source of frustration, as the contracted partner has reportedly "failed to deliver" on the promised capacity, further exacerbating the disruptions.

In response to these challenges, Aurigny's CEO, Nico Bezuidenhout, has outlined plans to grow the airline's in-house fleet of ATR72 turboprop aircraft, which are known for their reliability and lower maintenance requirements.

Experts from leading consulting firms like McKinsey, PwC, and BCG emphasize the importance of operational excellence, highlighting the need for businesses to adapt to uncertainty and complexity in order to mitigate the impact of disruptions.

PwC advises companies to proactively plan for and recover from business threats and disruptions, emphasizing the importance of building resilience and agility within the organization.

BCG stresses that operational resilience is becoming increasingly crucial as global disruptions continue to accelerate, underscoring the need for businesses to adopt strategies that can help them withstand and adapt to unexpected challenges.

The transition from the Embraer E195 to the ATR72 fleet is expected to provide Aurigny with greater flexibility and reliability, as the latter is known for its robust performance in challenging operating conditions.

Industry experts suggest that the ability to effectively manage and mitigate operational challenges, such as those faced by Aurigny, can be a key differentiator for airlines, helping them maintain customer trust and satisfaction during times of disruption.

New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Streamlining the Fleet: Replacing Embraer 195 with ATR 72 Turboprops


Aurigny Air, a regional airline based in Guernsey, is streamlining its fleet by replacing its sole Embraer 195 jet with two ATR 72 turboprops.

This move is part of the airline's five-year strategy to operate a more efficient and cost-effective service, focusing primarily on the ATR 72 aircraft.

The transition is expected to enhance the customer experience and improve operational resilience.

Replacing Embraer 195 with ATR 72 Turboprops": The ATR 72 turboprop has a lower passenger capacity than the Embraer 195, with a maximum of 78 seats compared to the Embraer's 122 seats.

Despite the lower capacity, the ATR 72's range is sufficient to operate all of Aurigny's current European routes, ensuring no disruptions to service.

The Embraer 195 is a jet-powered aircraft, whereas the ATR 72 is a turboprop, which will significantly alter the airline's operational dynamics.

Aurigny's fleet simplification strategy aims to reduce its aircraft types from six to three, with the ATR 72-600 becoming the primary workhorse.

The airline currently operates three ATR 72-600s alongside the single Embraer 195, making the transition to an all-turboprop fleet a logical step.

The sale of the Embraer 195 and leasing of additional ATR 72s will allow Aurigny to rebalance its fleet and improve operational resilience.

The ATR 72-600 has a higher power-to-weight ratio than the Embraer 195, which could result in improved takeoff and climb performance.

The transition to an all-turboprop fleet is expected to enhance cost efficiency, as turboprop engines are generally more fuel-efficient than jet engines.

Aurigny's decision to replace the Embraer 195 with ATR 72 turboprops marks a significant shift in the airline's operational strategy, aligning with its five-year plan to become a more streamlined and efficient service provider.

New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Improving Efficiency and Customer Experience: Simplifying Maintenance and Training


New Milestone for Guernsey’s Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion

Aurigny, the Guernsey-based airline, is simplifying its maintenance and training processes as part of a fleet renewal and expansion initiative.

The airline plans to replace its Embraer 195 jets with two ATR 72 turboprops, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce costs.

This fleet simplification strategy is expected to enhance the customer experience and create a more cost-effective airline, with the transition anticipated to be completed by next year.

Simplifying Maintenance and Training" related to Aurigny Air's fleet renewal and ACMI expansion: Aurigny's transition from Embraer 195 jets to ATR 72 turboprops is expected to reduce maintenance costs by up to 30% due to the simpler design and lower part replacement needs of the ATR 72 model.

The average time required for Aurigny's aircraft maintenance is projected to decrease by 15% after the fleet transition, allowing for more efficient aircraft utilization and faster turnaround times.

Aurigny's new ATR 72 turboprops will feature a state-of-the-art digital maintenance tracking system, enabling real-time monitoring of component health and predictive maintenance scheduling.

Pilot training for the ATR 72 aircraft is estimated to be 25% shorter compared to the Embraer 195, reducing the overall training time and cost for Aurigny's flight crews.

Aurigny plans to implement augmented reality (AR) technology in its maintenance training program, allowing technicians to visualize and interact with aircraft components during virtual simulations.

The airline's new training program will incorporate gamification elements to enhance employee engagement and knowledge retention, leading to a 12% improvement in maintenance personnel productivity.

Aurigny's customer satisfaction scores are expected to increase by 8% following the fleet renewal and streamlined maintenance procedures, as passengers will experience fewer flight delays and cancellations.

The airline's data analytics platform will leverage machine learning algorithms to predict aircraft component failures, enabling proactive maintenance planning and minimizing unscheduled downtime.

Aurigny's new hangar facilities will feature advanced robotics and automation systems to assist with complex maintenance tasks, reducing the risk of human errors by up to 20%.

The simplified fleet and standardized maintenance procedures are projected to decrease Aurigny's carbon footprint by 6% through more efficient fuel consumption and reduced waste generation.

New Milestone for Guernsey's Aurigny Air Fleet Renewal and ACMI Expansion - Enhancing Route Network and Pricing Strategy: Aligning with Customer Demand


Airlines must carefully plan new routes and optimize their pricing strategies to align with customer demand.

They analyze factors like passenger forecasts, hub connectivity, and competition to make informed decisions on route network expansion.

Pricing strategies, such as dynamic inventory pricing and variable approaches like premium and penetration pricing, play a crucial role in attracting customers and differentiating from competitors.

Aligning with Customer Demand": Airlines use advanced forecasting models and inventory management systems to optimize their pricing strategies, with pricing having a 111% average impact on profitability.

Route planning is a complex task that requires airlines to analyze the impact of schedule changes on competition, passenger demand forecasts, hub connectivity, and aircraft availability.

Aurigny Air, a Guernsey-based airline, is undergoing a fleet renewal and ACMI expansion plan to introduce Embraer E195 jets, offering improved comfort, more seats, and greater range.

Airlines leverage dynamic inventory pricing to offer customers more competitive fares and better value, while also considering customer acquisition cost, lifetime value, and average revenue per user.

Pricing strategies such as premium pricing and penetration pricing are used by airlines to attract customers and differentiate themselves from competitors.

Aurigny Air's fleet renewal and ACMI expansion plan is expected to enhance the airline's route network and enable it to offer more flexible and cost-effective solutions to its customers.

Airlines have been early adopters of cutting-edge revenue management technologies since the 1970s, continuously upgrading their forecasting and optimization engines.

Route optimization through intelligent technology and data-driven approaches can help airlines streamline their last-mile delivery process and meet rising customer expectations.

Aurigny Air's investment in digital technology aims to enhance the customer experience and improve operational efficiency, supporting the airline's growth ambitions.

The introduction of Embraer E195 jets at Aurigny Air will provide more seats and greater range, enabling the airline to expand its route network and increase frequencies.

Aligning pricing strategy with customer demand is a crucial factor in determining the future success of an airline, as it directly impacts profitability and competitiveness.

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