Loganair set to cut Inverness flights serving Manchester and Stornoway as airline battles to “restore image and reputation”
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Loganair flights between Inverness and Manchester and Inverness and Stornoway will be reduced in number this summer.
The company is also scrapping some services outwith the Highlands in an effort to “restore the image and reputation” of the airline after admitting service levels had dropped below customer expectations over the last 18 months.
It aims to consolidate its “core flying network” by cutting the number of flights it operates.
The biggest changes will see the axing of flights from Aberdeen to Teesside and Newcastle, as well as between Glasgow and Southampton from May 10.
Other services will see “minor adjustments” in frequency until the end of the summer schedule on October 26.
That would include “temporary” reductions in services between Inverness and Manchester, where flights are being cut from 11 to nine a week.
Loganair’s Inverness-Stornoway service will be cut from 10 to nine flights a week.
Other cuts will hit Loganair’s Edinburgh-Southampton, Isle of Man-Birmingham and Newcastle-Southampton routes, as well as flights from Glasgow to Derry and Donegal.
Loganair has suffered major disruption to services during an aircraft replacement programme.
The changes announced were described as decisive action needed to improve operational performance.
New chief executive Luke Farajallah, in post since March 4, said: “I want to personally apologise to everyone who has been impacted by the unacceptable levels of disruption that have been experienced for over 18 months, whilst the airline has been undertaking a re-fleeting programme.
“We appreciate the changes we are announcing today may impact some customers whose bookings may need to change.
“This decision is one that has been made for the greater good of the vast majority of customers who must be able to book and fly with confidence, especially from some of the most remote parts of the UK.
“Loganair is the UK’s largest regional airline, and we are getting back to the basic principles that have made us successful for over six decades.
“We are relentlessly focused on confidently serving our core markets and core customers, who must be able to book with certainty, and experience a stable and resilient flying programme.
“This is especially true for the Highlands and Islands communities who rely on Loganair for being so much more than an airline serving a leisure market.
“We have been falling short of the service levels expected of us by our loyal customers and amazing crew for over 18 months.
“Today, we are making changes that, once fully delivered throughout the summer, will help restore the image and reputation we have fought so hard to generate over so many years.”
Mr Farajallah added: “We intend to defend and grow our presence in these markets through the demonstration that we can and will deliver consistent operational stability and excellence”.
