Union anger as Dundee air traffic control jobs moved to Inverness.

Hial claims there will be no job losses, but staff will be expected to relocate

Union bosses have blasted a decision to relocate air traffic management to Inverness.

Highland and Islands Airport Limited (Hial) announced that air traffic management (ATM) will be centralised, meaning around 10 jobs in Dundee will move north.

Prospect has blasted the move, saying it is “staggering” and forcing staff to move to the Highlands city.

Hial has chosen New Century House in Inverness as the location for a new Combined Surveillance Centre which will act as a central hub for the operator’s air traffic management project. They hope to buy the building soon.

Other airports managed by Hial include Sumburgh, Kirkwall and Stornoway.

It is understood the transfer will begin next year and all airports will have finished the move by 2027.

Dundee will be the last to see its staff move as it is the busiest one Hial operates.

And most flights leaving Dundee Airport are training or charter flights, rather than scheduled flights, adding to the complexity.

Inglis Lyon, Hial managing director, said: “Our focus continues to be on aviation service delivery and providing a safe, modern and efficient means of handling aircraft for the regions in the future.”

Hial claim there will be no job losses, but staff will be expected to move to Inverness.

David Avery, Prospect negotiator, said: “At the same time as Prospect members were voting to accept a pay deal which included a guarantee of no compulsory redundancies, the Hial board have decided to implement these changes which will inevitably lead to redundancies.”

A Hial spokeswoman said they will do “all they can” to help staff move.

“We are also exploring other options to mitigate impact for staff,” she added.

Picture: Kris Miller. The decision will affect around 10 jobs in Dundee.