THE boss of Loganair has said a lifeline air route in the Highlands used by NHS patients is becoming “difficult to sustain”.
Luke Farajallah, CEO at Loganair – the UK’s biggest regional airline – said flights between Inverness and Stornoway are experiencing low passenger numbers.
Many patients use the route to reach medical appointments in Inverness, and medical professionals also rely on the route to fly from the city to island consultations.
Farajallah (below) called on the Scottish Government to ensure there are enough funds to retain flights on the route.
Speaking to BBC Scotland, he urged the Scottish Government to retain subsidised half price fares for islanders flying off the islands, adding that these have proven vital for those living in rural communities.
He added that patients who use the airline to get to medical appointments in Scotland’s cities are “in a better position” after some routes were axed to improve reliability.
Loganair ceased its flights between Stornoway and Benbecula in March, as Farajallah maintained that services still need to be “financially viable”.
Meanwhile, the chief executive said passenger traffic around Aberdeen and Shetland remained at a good level.
“We've seen some growth in that over the last 18 months,” he said.
“We feel oil and gas has been going through a resurgence, and we haven't seen any sign of that abating.
“Our strategy would be to provide as many services as required for that region. There's a new phase when there's a slowdown.
“There will be a decommissioning phase which will last years. Loganair is very prominent in Aberdeen and Shetland, and we intend to be for many years to come.”
