91Èȱ¬

Passengers will end up paying the price for a new method of parking planes at Guernsey Airport, according to Flybe's Channel Islands manager.

From February all planes will park "nose in" to the terminal and be towed out by tugs rather than park side on.

The States has agreed to fund the tugs and operators for two years during the airport redevelopment project.

However, Ian Taylor said if airlines were asked to contribute after that the cost would be passed on to passengers.

Colin Le Ray, the director of Guernsey Airport, said it was necessary during the runway resurfacing work to free up areas of the aprons for work.

The £600,000 needed was included in the £80m project budget.

Mr Taylor said: "We can see no advantage for airlines to do this and it would just lead to an increased cost which unfortunately passengers will have to bear.

"I think it's vastly unfair that existing operators and their passengers should be asked to fund a commercial gain for Guernsey Airport."

Mr Le Ray said: "It's a major step forward for us in being able to provide sufficient resources, not only for the existing operators but also for any new operators that might want to work here in due course.

"Any additional space we can provide, and nose in push back is the best way of providing it, has an immediate operational benefit."