The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Interline takes pain from going by plane
Aviation: North and north-east passengers get through tickets
Passengers flying on to other destinations from airports in the north and north-east will have easier journeys as a result of three “interline” deals struck by Scottish airline Loganair.
The carrier said yesterday its new agreements with Air France, KLM and Thomas Cook Airlines made through ticketing possible for connecting flights from Aberdeen, Inverness, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Norwich.
Interline deals take the hassle out of luggage connections, meaning baggage does not have to be claimed and checked in again for onward travel.
They also reduce the total amount of air passenger duty, which for people flying from the Highlands and islands onto connecting services can add nearly £80 per person to the cost of the flights.
Paisley-based Loganair also revealed it is close to signing similar agreements with four other airlines, including Middle East-based carrier Emirates, and said it would announce these soon.
The tie-ups are the latest in Loganair’s Better Connected programme, which aims to provide the widest possible range of links for Scots travelling around the world but also for inbound business and leisure visitors.
They complement similar “codeshare” arrangements Loganair has in place with British Airways and its partner airlines at Manchester, offering better connectivity to transatlantic routes.
The deal with Thomas Cook will allow single ticket travel from the Highlands and islands via Glasgow to major European holiday hot spots and destinations in the US, while the pending agreement with Emirates will be useful for people travelling to and from Asia and Australia.
Loganair commercial director Kay Ryan said: “These are exciting deals with some of the biggest names in international air travel.
“They mean a better, joined-up service for our customers, as well as making it easier for overseas tourists to come and visit some of the beautiful places we fly to in the Highlands and islands.”
Loganair is also a member of a global connections partnership, Worldwide by easyJet, whose growing portfolio of airlines and airports are committed to taking some of the hassle out of travelling.
Part of the Airline Investments group, Loganair carries nearly 700,000 passengers a year and operates about 1,000 services every week.
“Exciting deals with some of the biggest names in international air travel”