30th January 1935
Jersey Airways demands Guernsey monopoly
When the States of Guernsey started discussing plans for a new airport at La Villaize, which would take over from the island’s boggy landing strip at L’Eree, Jersey Airways spotted an opportunity.
Guernsey airport, which was strongly opposed across the island, was expected to cost around £100,000 to build (around £7m today). Jersey Airways, which had not long been in existence itself, offered to underwrite the full cost of the building works in return for an agreement that it would have exclusive rights to fly to and from the new facility for its first five years of operation.
It should perhaps be thankful that the States of Guernsey didn’t accept its offer as the airport wasn’t finished until a few months before the start of the Occupation. As a result, scheduled services were unable to use it until 1945. By that point Jersey Airways’ exclusive rights to operate from the base would have expired.
FREE Jersey history newsletter
Don't miss our weekly update on Jersey's fascinating history. We promise never to sell your data to anyone else, and there's a super-easy unsubscribe link on the bottom of each email so you can leave whenever you want.
Other events that occured in January
Jersey Airways demands Guernsey monopoly
- Jersey Airways offered to pay for the construction of Guernsey Airport if it could have the sole rights to use it for five years.
- Read more…
Night of the Fox is first published
- Jack Higgins' Jersey-set book Night of the Fox was first published in January 1986. It was later made into a film.
- Read more…
Jersey registers its lowest ever temperature
- Jersey's daytime temperature dropped to well below freezing when it recorded its lowest ever temperature in January 1895.
- Read more…
Mainland-born bailiff dies in Jersey
- William Vernon came to Jersey in his childhood and he eventually became Bailiff. He died, aged 82, in January 1934.
- Read more…