Airlines to axe flights between Stornoway and Glasgow
FLYBE and Eastern Airways are stopping their flights between Stornoway and Glasgow from March 4, due to lower than expected demand.
Operated by Eastern Airways, the services were run in competition to Loganair flights.
The flights were only introduced in September 2017 and Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MSP Alasdair Allan has expressed his disappointment at the airlines’ decision to end the flights.
The flight operators have also announced an additional 12 flights per week between Stornoway and Aberdeen. Mr Allan, who has now spoken with Flybe’s chief commercial officer about the decision, commented: ‘It is disappointing that competition on the Stornoway to Glasgow route did not become long term. However, this was not unexpected news, as both companies seemed to be focused on pushing each other off this route, rather than on providing islanders with a wider choice of flights.
‘This has caused more than a few issues in terms of timetabling and airport arrangements. I very much hope Flybe’s competitor Loganair will now ensure there is the capacity that its island customers need and stay away from the option of increasing fares. I will be writing to Loganair to seek assurances on this.’
Mr Allan said the news about Flybe’s extra services between Stornoway and Aberdeen appears to be more welcome and said he had asked the company to check the revised timetable works better for islanders working offshore in the oil industry than the old one did, as this had been a major problem in the past.