Guernsey-based company Waves, which launched last January as an ‘on-demand air taxi service’, is to alter its business model following a legal challenge by rival Guernsey airline Blue Islands.
Blue Islands began legal proceedings in December against the States of Guernsey’s regulatory body, the Transport Licensing Authority, claiming Waves should have a local air transport licence.
It argued that Waves was not an air taxi because it sold individual airline seats, it marketed seats on flights that had no passengers booked on them, and the destination was specified by the airline not the customer.
As a result of the challenge, Waves has announced this week that customers will now be able to charter its nine-seater aircraft for their exclusive use, and choose when and where they wish to travel between Guernsey, Jersey and Alderney.
Waves Deputy CEO Barrie Baxter commented: “We have had to review our business model following correspondence with the Transport Licensing Authority. Whilst we believe our air taxi model was exactly that, we have listened to their guidance and are also preparing to apply for a full route licence between Guernsey and Jersey. In the interim, our customers can still fly with us, on demand, by booking the aircraft.”
Blue Islands has welcomed the changes. It told the BBC: “We are pleased the Transport Licensing Authority has reached a decision on Waves’ operation, which was not an air taxi as defined by the law, and note Waves will cease its illegal flying and move to an operation compliant with the law.”