Airline profits way up

SCOTTISH airline Loganair has reported a pre-tax profit of just over £6 million for the year ending on 31 March, a huge increase of 39 per cent.

Turnover rose from £86.9 million to £87.5 million in 2013/14, largely on the back of increased oil traffic between Aberdeen and Sumburgh.

The Glasgow-based airline said this year’s introduction of three 50-seat Saab 2000, used on some of the Shetland routes, had been a success.

Executive chairman David Harrison confirmed that the company was looking into acquiring further aircrafts of the same type.

Passenger numbers for the year were up 4.9 percent to 576,750, with a passenger load factor of 65.8 per cent – Loganair’s best ever.

Harrison said: “Loganair and its passengers continue to benefit from the franchise agreement in place with Flybe, and the code share agreement the company continues to have with British Airways.

“These arrangements enable passengers to make convenient flight connections between the most remote areas of the Highlands and Islands to main destinations in the UK, Europe and worldwide.”