British Airways franchise partner Loganair has announced service enhancements and additional flights across its network of routes to the Highlands and Islands as part of its new summer schedule.

 

The changes will take effect across most of Loganair’s Scottish air network, with particular benefits to those flying between the mainland and Shetland, Orkney, the Western Isles and Islay.

 

Improvements to the Orkney route commence on 29^th May 2006 when a fourth daily flight from Kirkwall to Aberdeen is added every weekday. In addition, a direct Kirkwall to Edinburgh service – no longer stopping in Inverness – will begin, cutting the flying time to only 1 hour 20 minutes.

 

A connection between Kirkwall and the Caithness area will be resumed with the second daily service from Edinburgh connecting via Wick.

 

The service from Kirkwall to Inverness now operates twice daily from Monday to Friday. The improved timings on the flights give passengers a full day in Inverness.

 

Passengers flying from Kirkwall to Glasgow will be able to fly non-stop every day, with no transit through Inverness in either direction.

 

Changes to the Shetland route mean that from the 29^th May there will be a day return to both Kirkwall and Inverness from Sumburgh. With an aircraft based a Sumburgh, the service will depart early in the morning and return in the evening. This flight connects through Kirkwall in both directions.

 

A fourth flight has also been added from Sumburgh to Aberdeen on a Sunday. There will be five flights per weekday Monday - Friday, three flights on a Saturday and four flights on a Sunday. The new Sunday timings mean that passengers can return home later from Aberdeen at the end of the weekend, ensuring they have all day Sunday or arrive into Aberdeen later on the Sunday evening ready to start any business on Monday morning.

 

Shetland’s connections with Edinburgh have also been enhanced with the addition of a second non-stop service. This is ideal for a day return from Sumburgh to Edinburgh and is available on Monday – Friday. There remains one flight on a Saturday and Sunday. Glasgow already has a non-stop service that is now available seven days per week.

 

The Western Isles will also benefit from changes to the summer schedule. From 29^th May there will be a direct service from Stornoway to Edinburgh every weekday. Two of the three weekday services will still operate via Inverness, however from Monday to Friday the 1120 departure from Stornoway and the 1120 departure from Edinburgh will be non-stop – reducing the flying time to 1 hour and 10 minutes.

 

Stornoway to Glasgow schedule times have also been improved. There are currently four flights per weekday, however the first flight will now depart 30 minutes earlier and return 30 minutes later in the evening, giving passengers a longer day in Glasgow.  

 

Flights from Benbecula to Glasgow have also been retimed and improved with the morning service now departing one hour earlier. The double daily service allows island residents to visit Glasgow for a day.

 

Loganair has also increased its service between Islay and Glasgow with a third service on Monday, Thursday and Friday plus a new Sunday service.

 

The new service will operate from 22^nd May until 29^th Sep. The additional Sunday service will run throughout the period 21^st May 06 to 24^th September.

 

Jim Cameron, chief executive of Loganair said: “We believe that the new summer schedule will provide real flexibility and choice for passengers.

 

“These enhancements mean that local passengers and tourists alike will have more day return options on many more routes. These improvements have been requested by island residents and I am pleased that Loganair has been able to respond”.

 

Inglis Lyon, Managing Director of Highlands and Islands Airports said: "Loganair is the predominant operator of Scottish services at our airports.  These exciting new developments in terms of frequency and capacity are excellent news.  We are delighted to have worked with Loganair to help achieve them.  We fully expect this commercial innovation to benefit passengers and communities in the Highlands and Islands".