Redevelopment of Alderney Airport gains momentum with £24m budget

Plans to redevelop Alderney Airport have moved forward, with the States of Guernsey and the States of Alderney working toward approving a £24m upgrade to secure the island’s long-term connectivity.

image: Alderney Airport

The project aims to modernise critical airside infrastructure — including the runway, taxiway and apron — and refurbish the ageing terminal building and airport fire station, many of which date back more than 50 years.

Guernsey Ports is responsible for managing the airport, with political oversight from the States Trading Supervisory Board and funding decisions handled by Guernsey’s Policy & Resources Committee. The States of Alderney is an active partner in shaping the design and delivery of the improvements, given the airport’s essential role in supporting the island’s local community, tourism and access to medical services.

Earlier proposals for a larger redevelopment were costed at over £37m, prompting the current streamlined approach and the introduction of a strict £24m spending cap. Officials have been instructed to develop a final scope and return preferred options by December 2025, enabling a political decision on awarding contracts.

Set against a backdrop of underlying tension, with periodic disagreements over the scope of Guernsey’s oversight of Alderney, both governments are in agreement that the airport upgrade is vital. Furthermore Alderney business leaders have repeatedly warned that without investment in the runway, air services could be compromised, impacting residents and the island’s fragile economy.