Loganair likely to ask for government support during coronavirus pandemic
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The head of Loganair which runs a number of Highland routes said it is likely the firm will be looking for further support.
Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said it as "fair" that the government had told airlines to look to shareholders and other lenders first in a bid for additional support.
“But [the Chancellor said] if you can’t bridge the gap after that, only then can you come and talk to us," he said.
“I do think that, like the vast majority of UK airlines, we will be going back to take up that invite for further conversation with the Treasury in coming days, because we have to.
“This isn’t about deferring payments, it’s about getting rid of payments.
“What no airline can afford to do is rack up huge debts for the future that it’s going to have to service, because we are looking at a position even after this where the demand environment is going to be depressed for quite some time.”
Loganair has over 70 routes including services to Barra, Benbecula, Stornoway and Tiree.
Just weeks before the coronavirus crisis hit the UK it stepped in to take over a number of routes previously run by Flybe, before it went into administration.
These included flights from Inverness to Belfast, Birmingham and Jersey.
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