Loganair has urgently requested the Scottish and UK governments to step in following flight reductions caused by financial concerns. The regional airline has scaled back services from Inverness to the Western Isles, Orkney, and Shetland due to economic challenges. Routes like Inverness-Stornoway and Inverness-Kirkwall-Sumburgh were identified as unprofitable, leading to a shift in flight schedules from daily to only weekends.
This change has impacted island communities, as highlighted by Gordon Jamieson, CEO of NHS Western Isles, who emphasized the vital role of the morning flight for healthcare access. Approximately 1,100 appointments are expected to be affected in the coming months, necessitating adjustments and potential additional costs for the health board.
In response, NHS Western Isles plans to allocate £100,000 towards patient travel and explore options like evening clinics and extended clinician stays. Loganair is seeking support from government-owned Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) to reinstate flights, with Transport Scotland encouraging collaborative efforts between Hial and Loganair to find a solution.
The UK government is also reviewing ways to enhance air connectivity nationwide. Simon McNamara, Loganair’s government and corporate affairs head, attributed the flight cuts to heightened fuel prices due to Middle East tensions, affecting demand industry-wide. He suggested emulating Norway’s model of government-private operator partnerships for essential air services.
Noting the lack of a comprehensive strategy in Scotland, Loganair emphasized the need for sustainable solutions, such as direct subsidies or exemptions from certain taxes and charges. The airline stressed that most of its network lacks adequate support, calling for a structured approach to address the challenges in the aviation sector.
