Island communities 'held to ransom' over Loganair suspension of flights amid HIAL staff action, says angry Highland MSP

ISLAND communities caught up in work to rule action by Highland airport staff are being "held to ransom", an angry MSP has said.

Highlands and Islands MSP Rhoda Grant made her remarks after Loganair’s decision to suspend flights to and from Scotland’s islands to Inverness from March 17 in response to the work to rule collective action planned by Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) staff.

“HIAL must as a matter of urgency get back round the table with Unite and find a resolution to this dispute rather than allow our communities to be held to ransom."

Mrs Grant said: “The air routes to and from Inverness from the Western Isles, Orkney and Shetland are essential life line services that enable islanders to attend medical appointments, attend family emergencies and meet tight travel deadlines. To remove these routes in response to strike action by HIAL staff where they will work to rule is a complete over-reaction.

“Loganair instead needs to apply pressure on HIAL to get round the negotiating table, rather than on their customers in the islands who are already having to negotiate horrendous transport issues and have no influence in these matters.

“This reaction should make clear to HIAL that their staff go above and beyond what they are contracted to do to keep the airports running and that things would fall apart without their extra work which must be appropriately compensated and recognised.”

“HIAL must as a matter of urgency get back round the table with Unite and find a resolution to this dispute rather than allow our communities to be held to ransom."

Loganair said earlier: “We completely understand that this unprecedented step will be unwelcome news to communities who depend on the air services Loganair provides.

"It’s a step that we are taking with the utmost reluctance and only after careful consideration of all other options.

"We have sadly concluded that it’s simply not realistic to continue our efforts to provide services between HIAL airports when the action short of a strike is intended to disrupt and counter those efforts at every turn.

"The suspension provides advance – even if unwelcome – certainty around which our customers can adjust travel plans, as opposed to facing the risk of on-the-day flight cancellations or significant delays. We hope that the period of suspension – initially through to April 30 – will provide time and space for the parties to this dispute to meet and reach a resolution, enabling these long-running services to resume thereafter.”

HIAL’s managing director Inglis Lyon said: “We apologise for the disruption this will cause for our customers. The ongoing industrial action is having a significant impact on our airline partners and the announcement by Loganair to temporarily suspend some flights will cause considerable disruption for our island communities."

He said it was vital to find a mutual solution to resolve this dispute and will now "discuss our options within the parameters of public sector pay flexibility with the HIAL board and Transport Scotland".

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