Northern isles MSPs press issues with new Loganair operations director

Orkney MSP Liam McArthur and Shetland MSP Tavish Scott today met with Maurice Boyle, operations director at Loganair, who was appointed in November 2015.

Despite recent investment by the airline, lifeline flights operated by Loganair have continued to suffer from ‘technical’ faults and extended delays. The Northern Isles MSPs therefore pressed Mr Boyle on a range of issues including the detail of front line investment in services, communications with passengers facing delays and the nature of on-going technical faults.

Following today’s meeting, the Northern Isles MSPs will visit Loganair’s ‘spares hub’ at Glasgow Airport which has been established to better supply parts for the aircraft. Mr Boyle also agreed to look at specific ways in which communications with passengers can be improved, particularly in the event of delays and disruption.

My Boyle has also agreed to the request from Mr McArthur to re-establish Orkney’s ‘Air Services Key Users Group’ as well as to meet regularly with both Northern Isles MSPs over the coming months.

Commenting after the meeting, Liam McArthur MSP said: “Making the case for improved reliability of our lifeline air services has been one of my priorities over the last three years, and will remain my priority as we start 2016. I therefore welcome Mr Boyle’s confirmation again today that this is Loganair’s top priority as well.

“I recognise that investment has been made by the company, but we are still not seeing the benefits of this in terms of improved performance. The new ‘spares hub’ in Glasgow and recruitment and training of engineering support are steps in the right direction, and I look forward to visiting the Glasgow site and speaking to the Head of Engineering later this month. This will provide a clearer picture of what is happening to improve reliability.

“As well as reducing the number and frequency of technical faults, Loganair also need to address failings in the way they communicate with passengers. This is particularly the case in the event of delays and disruption. I am therefore pleased that Mr Boyle has agreed to look at this specific issue and see what can be done to improve the situation.”