Loganair reaches 750,000 customers milestone in Shetland

Loganair has today (30 October) celebrated a major milestone with the carriage of 750,000 customers through Shetland in just six years.

The UK’s largest regional airline has transported more than three quarters of a million customers through Sumburgh Airport since 2017, which it serves with routes from across the country, including London Heathrow. 

Kenny Malcolmson was one of the customers onboard today’s 11.50am Sumburgh to Inverness flight and helped the airline cross the threshold. He was drawn as the lucky recipient of a pair of free Loganair tickets to celebrate.

Born in Shetland, Kenny has lived on the island his whole life and uses Loganair to travel regularly for work between Shetland, Kirkwall and Inverness and plans to use his free tickets before Christmas to visit his daughter who lives in Glasgow. 

Kenny said: “I’m delighted to be given the free tickets as part of the milestone celebration. I’ve been using Loganair for over 40 years and have done so very regularly over the last 15 while travelling for work.”

The news comes after Loganair recorded its highest level of passenger numbers (post-pandemic) through Sumburgh earlier this summer – roughly 10% higher than 2022.

Recently announced as European Regional Airline of the Year for 2023, Loganair now links Shetland to Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, London Heathrow and Orkney as well as Shetland’s only direct international link to Bergen during the summer. 

Loganair chief executive, Jonathan Hinkles, said: “Shetland sits at the very heart of our operations, so it’s fantastic to have passed this milestone today and celebrate it with an island-based customer like Kenny.

“From transporting islanders to and from Shetland and the mainland, to bringing vital services to the island community, Loganair and Shetland have grown together, and we can now offer the biggest range of routes the island has ever known, including access to the UK’s capital through London Heathrow T2.

“As we look to the future with our ongoing fleet transition, Shetland will continue to be key to everything we do, and I look forward to the day when we reach our next milestone with the community.”

Andrew Farquhar, Sumburgh Airport General Manager, said: “It’s fantastic that Loganair’s 750,000th passenger has flown with us from Sumburgh Airport.  As a valued customer we are delighted to support Loganair in providing connectivity for both our local community and visitors to the islands”.