Flybe terminates contract with Loganair
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Flybe is ending its franchise agreement with Scottish airline Loganair.
It means that Loganair will stop operating flights, including flights from Inverness, under the Flybe banner from August 31 next year.
Flybe said its decision came after "a failure to agree future operational standards and commercial arrangements".
Loganair says it will begin to operate in its own right from September 1, 2017 and aims to run even more flights than at present, though it hasn’t been conformed yet what routes any extra flights would cover.
Loganair currently operates lifeline flights between the Scottish mainland and islands but also has operations stretching as far afield as London, Norwich, Manchester, Dublin, and Bergen in Norway.
Simon Laffin, Executive Chairman, 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. In the meantime our customers can travel and book tickets exactly as before, while any new arrangements will be put in place from September 2017 onwards.”
Peter Simpson, chief executive of Loganair parent Airline Investments Ltd, said: “Today’s announcement is a major milestone in the 54-year history of Loganair.
“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.”
Loganair managing director Jonathan Hinkles added: “We hold tremendous responsibility to operate services on lifeline routes and provide connectivity for Scotland - operating more flights in Scotland than every other airline put together - and I am wholly confident that Loganair’s independence will be warmly welcomed by both our customers and our dedicated team of professional employees.”
