Sturgeon’s pledge to ‘do everything we can’ after Flybe collapses

HOLYROOD: First minister quizzed on government’s intervention

The Scottish Government will consider “all reasonable options” to save vital air links and jobs threatened by the collapse of Flybe.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made the pledge in the wake of the regional airline’s demise on Thursday.

The firm employed more than 2,000 people and served around 170 destinations, including Aberdeen, Inverness, Kirkwall, Sumburgh and Wick.

Appearing on the BBC’S Politics Scotland programme, Ms Sturgeon was asked what action the Scottish Government was taking, including whether it was investigating interventions such as public service obligations, which involve subsidies for flights.

The first minister said: “Obviously there is a careful process that has to go through around public service

“

We will consider all reasonable options. FIRST MINISTER NICOLA STURGEON

obligations, and the rules and regulations around that.

“We will consider all reasonable options.”

“Firstly we will do everything we can to help affected employees.

“We have well established arrangements in place through our PACE initiative, although we would hope that many employees would find work with other airlines.

“We have of course been involved in discussions about some of the routes that have been affected, and Loganair have already announced that they are taking over some of the routes.

“There has been concern about some of the routes serving our more rural communities, so we will continue to have discussions with other airlines, looking at what we can reasonably do.”

Ms Sturgeon suggested that she hoped to see resources made available in the upcoming UK Budget to help other firms impacted by coronavirus.

“Flybe was struggling, but I think it’s reasonable to say that coronavirus has had an impact here, which illustrates a wider point, and again it’s relevant to the UK Budget next week,” she said.

“Helping businesses that might face difficulties, and by extension helping those who work for them, is going to be an important part of our response.”