TEN YEARS AGO Friday May 4, 2012
Weekend flight hopes stall
Kintyre will not have weekend flights to Glasgow until at least 2013, even if there is a demand, the Courier has learned this week.
Under the Public Service Obligation (PSO) agreement, current operator Loganair cannot consider introducing flights until at least October next year.
The possibility of weekend flights to and from Campbeltown has been a hot topic over the last few years, with many businesses feeling the area would benefit greatly, as more visitors would be encouraged.
Roger Hage, director of service delivery for Loganair, said putting on weekend flights could be seen as operating on a commercial basis, saying: ‘If we were to do that, it would break the PSO which could then be revoked.'
There is strong local feeling that more flights would capitalise on weekend demand, especially golf breaks, potentially bringing more revenue to the area.
Currently, there are two flights a day to Glasgow from Monday to Friday.
A meeting of the Kintyre Initiative Working Group heard last week that aircraft were often full on Fridays, with the feeling a Saturday service could be a very busy route.
Mr Hage told the meeting Loganair cannot consider going outwith the PSO at the moment.
While confirming the status quo would remain until 2013, a statement from the Scottish Government suggested a revised PSO could include a Saturday service.