The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Dundee to Stansted link on airline’s radar
Connectivity: Commitment to capital connection after Loganair set to fly solo following split with Flybe
Loganair will bid to operate Dundee’s direct air link to the UK capital for the next four years after a split from longterm flight partner Flybe.
The company has spent almost a quarter of a century operating via franchise agreements with other airlines, but it will fly solo again from next year after its decade-long relationship with Flybe comes to an end in August.
The move, which Fly Be said had come after a failure to agree “future operational standards and commercial arrangements”, left a question mark hanging over the regular service from Dundee to London Stansted.
However, Loganair managing director Jonathan Hinkles said the intention was to continue flying the route for the next four years – although that will depend on the extension of Public Service Obligation (PSO) subsidy for the service.
In March, the UK Government, Scottish Government and Dundee City Council announced £800,000 of new funding to keep the route flying until the end of this year.
“Loganair remains committed to the Dundee-London Stansted route and its operations at Dundee have been unaffected by the recent diversion of Flybe services between Dundee and Amsterdam to operate from Edinburgh,” Mr Hinkles said.
“The PSO to operate the Dundee-London service is shortly to be routinely re-tendered by Dundee City Council and we will be bidding to continue providing the service for the next four years.”
Loganair, which will become a standalone airline on September 1, operates 28 aircraft on scheduled services and contract work and employs more than 600 staff.
Peter Simpson, chief executive of Airline Investments Ltd, Loganair’s parent company, said a return to a standalone service was a milestone.
“Although Loganair has flown as a franchise carrier for larger airlines over the last 24 years, there is still a huge level of recognition and affinity for the Loganair name throughout Scotland and beyond,” Mr Simpson said.
“We believe the time is right for Scotland’s Airline to now spread its wings once again, and are delighted to be introducing a bold new corporate identity to accompany this important move.”
Flybe executive chairman Simon Laffin said: “Scotland is very important to Flybe and we want to ensure that we serve our customers there to the highest standards, whilst delivering a return to our shareholders.
“We shall announce our plans on continuing to serve Scotland in due course.”
A spokesperson for Dundee Airport operator Highlands and Islands Airports Limited added: “The HIAL team has been kept up to date on the discussions between Flybe and Loganair around the franchise agreement and we do not expect any material changes to our services as a result of the announcement.”
The Public Service Obligation to operate the Dundee London service is shortly to be re-tendered and we will be bidding to continue providing the service for the next four years. JONATHAN HINKLES, LOGANAIR