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Funding to restore flights from Inverness to Scottish islands
Funding to restore flights from Inverness to Scottish islands
The Scottish Government has announced it will provide more than £1 million in funding to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) to restore flights from Inverness to the Islands. The funding will reinstate the frequency of air services connecting Inverness to Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh from October 26, bringing back important air links for island communities and businesses. The return of these services will support essential travel for island residents accessing healthcare and public services on the mainland. Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn said the move will provide greater certainty to passengers. He said: “I am pleased the Scottish Government has confirmed over £1 million of funding to support the full recommencement of air services connecting Inverness to Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh. “HIAL and Loganair have worked collaboratively through commercial discussions to restart these services from October, providing greater certainty to passengers. “Transport Scotland will now work with HIAL and industry stakeholders to discuss next steps for a sustainable, long-term solution to protect Highlands and Islands air services for those who rely on them.” Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, CEO, Paul Kelsall said: “This is a positive step for passengers and for the wider connectivity of the Highlands and Islands. “As has been the case throughout this process, we are committed to finding a lasting solution which benefits the passengers who use our airports. “We will continue to work closely with Transport Scotland and all other stakeholders to put these routes on a sustainable, long-term footing. Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive Officer at Loganair said the routes “matter enormously” to the people who rely on them. He added: “We’re a privately owned airline, and keeping thin routes like these flying isn’t something we can always do alone, so we’re genuinely pleased that the Scottish Government has stepped in to make full services possible again from October. “Our commitment to the Highlands and Islands goes back decades, and it isn’t going anywhere. We’ll keep working with HIAL and Transport Scotland to get these routes onto a footing that lasts.”
The Scottish Government has announced it will provide more than £1 million in funding to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) to restore flights from Inverness to the Islands.
The funding will reinstate the frequency of air services connecting Inverness to Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh from October 26, bringing back important air links for island communities and businesses.
The return of these services will support essential travel for island residents accessing healthcare and public services on the mainland.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Tourism and Transport Stephen Flynn said the move will provide greater certainty to passengers.
He said: “I am pleased the Scottish Government has confirmed over £1 million of funding to support the full recommencement of air services connecting Inverness to Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh.
“HIAL and Loganair have worked collaboratively through commercial discussions to restart these services from October, providing greater certainty to passengers.
“Transport Scotland will now work with HIAL and industry stakeholders to discuss next steps for a sustainable, long-term solution to protect Highlands and Islands air services for those who rely on them.”
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, CEO, Paul Kelsall said: “This is a positive step for passengers and for the wider connectivity of the Highlands and Islands.
“As has been the case throughout this process, we are committed to finding a lasting solution which benefits the passengers who use our airports.
“We will continue to work closely with Transport Scotland and all other stakeholders to put these routes on a sustainable, long-term footing.
Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive Officer at Loganair said the routes “matter enormously” to the people who rely on them.
He added: “We’re a privately owned airline, and keeping thin routes like these flying isn’t something we can always do alone, so we’re genuinely pleased that the Scottish Government has stepped in to make full services possible again from October.
“Our commitment to the Highlands and Islands goes back decades, and it isn’t going anywhere. We’ll keep working with HIAL and Transport Scotland to get these routes onto a footing that lasts.”