TRIPREPORT Aurigny ATR 72 (single class) LGW-GCI (E195 report soon)

Aurigny operates their ATR family aircraft on the LGW-GCI route twice daily with all the others being on G-NSEY, their E195, this being the only route it operates. AUR isn`t exactly a massive ariline nor is it very well known, but it definitely ranks very highly on my top airlines to fly with. At the check-in desk, however we arrived 30 mins after the time that they said to (3 hrs before) but the staff member at the desk refused to check in our bags, saying that they could only check in 2 hours before and made us wait 30 mins making us wait in the packed departures hall.

Before boarding we stayed in the No.1 lounge at the south terminal (review to come at some point) meaning that i could spot our aircraft arriving. Unfortunately, as the turnaround was so short we nearly missed our flight with our names being called (sorry!).

They take 72 passengers on every ATR 72-500 aircraft in an all-economy layout in a 2-2 configuration. The aircraft I flew on was G-LERE, custom registered as a nod to L`eree bay on the island. The legroom was very good considering it is an ultra-short haul aircraft, it`s longest route being to Manchester. The cabin did, however feel quite small for someone used to flying on 737s and a320s like me- to be expected of a small turboprop. This flight was assigned two very friendly cabin crew who did their job amazingly and even contacted the cabin to let me in the cockpit once the front cargo hold was cleared at GCI. AUR do sell models on board and, of course, i had to get them both, one ATR 72 and one E195.

The landing at GCI was hilariously rubbish with the captain trying to set an example to his first-time first officer but, instead, bouncing it. The captain then displayed a very Guernsey-like laid back attitude having a laugh about how crap it was!

This was my best ever short-haul experience and i hope Aurigny`s deficit problem blows over!

My aircraft immediately after pushback to East Midlands at GCI. This picture was taken about 20 mins after arriving at Guernsey with me on board!