The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Two Loganair routes to English cities to resume
● Planes to Birmingham and Newcastle will take off from today
Two routes from Aberdeen Airport will return to the air for the first time today since being suspended during the coronavirus pandemic.
Loganair’s connections from the north-east to Birmingham and Newcastle will take off as part of efforts to restore full services from the Granite City.
The airline has maintained lifeline links to the Highlands and islands throughout the lockdown, as well as flights to Manchester and Norwich for essential workers.
All passengers boarding the planes will be issued with a face covering if they do not already have one and seats will be allocated to allow for social distancing.
Meanwhile, the airport is continuing to work with airlines to help put arrangements in place which will help more flights return to Aberdeen as restrictions are eased.
Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair’s chief executive, s a i d t h e r e s t o r e d c o n n e c t i o n s c o u l d encourage companies to begin to return to normal.
He said: “With many businesses turning their thoughts to restarting work after the Covid-19 pandemic, the UK’s regional air connectivity will be more important than ever.
“For the sake of the recovery of the UK economy, we must enable key workers across the gas, construction, service and healthcare sectors to travel swiftly, comfortably and safely.
“As well as providing travel guidance on which basis businesses can plan, we believe today’s announcement will also lend confidence to people looking forward to visiting families and friends once social restrictions permit.”
Flights to Birmingham, which Loganair took over following the collapse of Flybe in March, will initially operate on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
It is hoped that from late August the service will expand to include two return flights from Monday to Friday in addition to one on Sundays.
Flights to Newcastle will operate on weekday afternoons and Sundays and will be expanded to twice-daily next month. There will also be onward same-plan services to Exeter and Southampton.
Loganair has urged customers to check for updates before travelling.
Derek Provan, chief executive of Aberdeen Airport’s owners AGS Airports, said: “Our Loganair colleagues have worked incredibly hard to maintain the country’s vital lifeline Highlands and island services... and their efforts should be commended.
“We are working closely with many of our airline partners to assist them with their restart plans, so it is reassuring to see that Loganair will not only increase frequencies of existing services but will also commence flights on a number of key regional routes lost through the collapse of Flybe.
“Aviation continues to face huge challenges. However, it is heartening to see signs of recovery and AGS Airports stands ready to help.”