Letters / Being held hostage
My experience of the Up Helly Aa celebrations was indeed fantastic. Even more than my wildest expectations – in spite of, should I say, the inclement weather.
The volunteers put on a spectacular show. However the only downside if I wanted to fly to Shetland was the air fare.
I flew from Edmonton, Canada to Amsterdam then to Aberdeen with KLM. Return ticket cost for almost 10,000 miles trip was £420.
Cost quoted for return ticket from Aberdeen to Sumburgh plus taxi to Lerwick a trip of approximately 500 miles was £453.
To me this is one giant leap in costs to visit your islands than compared to normal international air fares. All I can say is the residents of the Shetland Isles are held hostage.
My family tree goes deep into the past of the Shetland Isles and I am proud to be apart of that history.
John Bruce
3003 34 Avenue, Edmonton
Alberta, Canada
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