Clear Harbour Airways (Jersey) has been granted authorization to operate commercially in the Channel Islands using a foreign Air Operator's Certificate (AOC), airline founder Benjamin Hill has told ch-aviation in an emailed statement.

The start-up is now in the process of applying for its Air Transport Licence (ATL) from the Guernsey Transport Licensing Authority (GTLA). Earlier this week, Hill told the Guernsey Press that Clear Harbour Airways would initially focus on the Guernsey-Jersey market using amphibians.

"I have got my AOC approved by the director of civil aviation and berths have been allocated in both St Peter Port (Guernsey) and St Helier (Jersey)," he said adding that he hoped to commence operations by mid-June of this year.

Operations will be on-board a 14-seater DHC-3, set to arrive from parent firm Harbour Air Seaplanes (YB, Vancouver Coal Harbour) in Canada, in the coming weeks.

Hill aims to run the flights as a 45-minute office-to-office service between St Peter Port and St Helier.

Clear Harbour Airways will compete in the Jersey-Guernsey market with Blue Islands (SI, Jersey), flybe. (2002) (Exeter) and Waves (Guernsey) which, this week, was granted route authorities to operate passenger and cargo services between the two Channel isles as well as between Guernsey and Alderney (for which another start-up - Air Alderney (London Biggin Hill) - has also been granted route authority and which Clear Harbour Airways is also considering).