Isles air service up for discussion

Orkney and Shetland’s lifeline air service must be cheaper, more reliable and efficient say Liam McArthur and Tavish Scott.

The Orkney and Shetland MSPs will meet the Scottish Transport Minister today in Holyrood.

They will highlight the online campaign signed by more than 10,000 islanders wanting better air services.

Both Mr McArthur and Mr Scott have been inundated with complaints over the current service in recent days. They will press the Scottish Government to invest in the Air Discount Scheme and put pressure on Flybe and the airports over cost, reliability and service.

Speaking before the meeting Liam McArthur said: “Passengers using these lifeline routes have become increasingly dissatisfied with the service they are receiving.  Reliability is now such a problem that those who can are booking flights a day before they need to travel in order to avoid the risk of missing connections or important meetings.  That situation is just not sustainable.

“To add insult to injury, the decision by Scottish Ministers to withdraw ADS support for anyone travelling on business means that islanders are paying more for a less reliable service.

“As if this wasn’t bad enough, new security screening arrangements at Edinburgh airport are leading to lengthy delays at peak periods, with the risk of flights being missed.

“Not all of this is in the gift of the Minister to resolve, but much of it is.  Ultimately, these are lifeline air services for our island communities. Tavish and I, therefore, will be looking for a positive response from Mr Mackay when we meet him later today.”