Direct flights to ’Dam won’t resume until mid-January

FLYBE will not resume direct flights from Dundee to Amsterdam until at least mid-January, an airport consultation group has been told.

Dundee Airport Consultative Committee members have received an email from airport manager Derrick Lang to inform them of continued disruption to the route.

Flybe has advised that the situation where customers are bussed from Dundee to Edinburgh Airport has been extended.

Mr Lang said: “I have been advised by Flybe that they are now extending the current diversion through Edinburgh until at least January 16 2017.

“This is disappointing but Dundee Airport are still working with them to resolve their operational issues. I share everyone’s frustration on this but I can assure you we are working very hard with them to reach a resolution to this and get the flight back operating from Dundee.

“If I was to take a positive from this, they are still operating the route currently through Dundee albeit on a ‘technical’ basis and they have not cancelled it in any way.

“Indeed they are still working on resolving their issue.”

Councillor Fraser Macpherson, a member of the committee, said: “To say I am disappointed at the continuation of the current diversion of Amsterdam flights via Edinburgh into January is an understatement.

“It is vital that Flybe restores the direct flights as soon as possible to maintain confidence in the route.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Dundee-Amsterdam service has proved to be extremely popular with travellers, so we are very disappointed that this situation has arisen.

“We expect Flybe, together with HIAL (Highlands and Islands Airports Limited), to consider all options to keep these flights going so that the initial success of the service can be maintained and built on further over time.”

In a previous statement, a spokesman for Flybe said: “Flybe confirms that, due to the ongoing review of its operation at Dundee Airport, flights to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will continue to operate via Edinburgh Airport until further notice.

“The airline continues to keep the Department for Transport f ully informed and remains committed to working with Dundee Airport to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.”