Loganair stopping all Western Isles - Inverness for six weeks

Loganair is grounding flights for six weeks between Inverness, Stornoway and Benbecula during forthcoming work-to-rule industrial action at the three airports.

The airline said it is “forced” to take such drastic measures action as the work-to-rule will have an unpredictable impact on operating plane services for the islands.

Starting on Friday 17 March up to and including 30 April no Loganair services will fly from the Western Isles to the Highland capital. The flight suspension risks being extended into May.

Shetland and Orkney flights for Inverness will be similarly affected.

Unions representing employees at airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) are presently engaged in discontinuous strike action and further action short of a strike, in the form of a work-to-rule.

The work-to-rule is far less manageable than dealing with an an airport that shuts due to a staff walkout said the air operator.

“If, for example, a single member of the HIAL team has time off work for sickness, a family emergency or suchlike, their shift cannot be covered through overtime or shift swaps” said Loganair in a statement. .

“This leads to a position where shifts cannot be manned to the required minimum levels to enable flights to take place, causing cancellations and delays with either very limited advance notice or none at all.”

Where Loganair flights are operating from the Western Isles to Glasgow or Edinburgh which are unaffected by the action, the impact can generally be managed within operational flexibility available on the day.

However, where flights are taking place between HIAL airports – such as from Inverness to Stornoway and Benbecula – then the cumulative effect of rolling restrictions at each airport in turn means that it “becomes impossible to reasonably assure the provision of a service between them,” said the aviation company.

A spokesperson for Loganair said: “We completely understand that this unprecedented step will be unwelcome news to communities who depend on the air services Loganair provides.

“It’s a step that we are taking with the utmost reluctance and only after careful consideration of all other options.

“We have sadly concluded that it’s simply not realistic to continue our efforts to provide services between HIAL airports when the action short of a strike is intended to disrupt and counter those efforts at every turn.

“The suspension provides advance – even if unwelcome - certainty around which our customers can adjust travel plans, as opposed to facing the risk of on-the-day flight cancellations or significant delays.

“We hope that the period of suspension – initially through to 30 April – will provide time and space for the parties to this dispute to meet and reach a resolution, enabling these long-running services to resume thereafter.”

Labour MSP Rhoda Grant said the move was an “over reaction” by the airline.

She added: “Loganair instead needs to apply pressure on HIAL to get round the negotiating table, rather than on their customers in the islands who are already having to negotiate horrendous transport issues and have no influence in these matters.

“HIAL must as a matter of urgency get back round the table with Unite and find a resolution to this dispute rather than allow our communities to be held to ransom.”

Labour’s Western Isles election candidate, Torcuil Crichton, said the islands should not be “held hostage” in the pay and conditions dispute.

“The knock-on effect on hospital appointments alone is unimaginable.

“HIAL is answerable to the Scottish Government and I’ve previously called on Transport Secretary Jenny Gilruth to intervene and broker a settlement.

“HIAL say they can only negotiate within government flexibility on pay, the Minster has to come to the table and get these flights back on.”

Loganair to stop Western Isles flights to and from Inverness for at least six weeks

3 March 2023