Concern over reduction in Loganair service to the Islands.

Airline connectivity is vital for our islands.

The reduction in the daily Loganair service between Stornoway and Inverness is deeply concerning and I will be raising this issue directly with Loganair when I meet with them in Westminster this week. 

This cut back will have huge implications, particularly for island patients travelling to Inverness for treatment.  We’ve already lost the Benbecula connection to Inverness and seen the problems that causes. The Western Isles Health Board currently spends approximately £2million each year on patient travel for islanders travelling on the route for treatment at Raigmore, so a solution must be found. This is public money and we need public accountability. 

I’d like to see the Scottish Government, HIAL, the UK Government and other public sector bodies working together on a solution but the proposed cut to the island routes is just one aspect of airline connectivity. 

I will be asking the UK Government to look at regional airlinks in the round, looking at public sector support through PSOs, evaluating the economic impact of losing the EU’s EGNOS radar system and the use of the air discount scheme so more routes and services can be retained and protected.