Loganair ‘stepping up’ winter flight cuts due to costs
Airline will cut between 10 and 15 per cent of its summer flights from 2 November
LOGANAIR will stop running between 10 to 15 per cent of its summer flights over the winter period, the airline has confirmed.
While running a reduced service over the winter is normal practice, Loganair chief commercial officer Ronnie Matheson admitted this week that they have “stepped that number up” this year.
The reduced service will be effective from Monday 2 November.
Loganair has not said what routes will be affected, but one of its top officials promised this week that they would be “absolutely prioritising island flights” during the period.
He was responding to Western Isles MSP Donald MacKinnon at Wednesday’s Scottish Government transport committee, who had asked about the winter timetable changes.
MacKinnon said he had been told by Loganair of the cuts, but added he felt it had not been publicised widely enough.
Loganair did not release a public statement about the winter changes before Wednesday’s meeting, and only provided one to Shetland News on request this week.
The company said its winter schedule would be “around 10-15 per cent lighter” than it was during the summer.
“The adjusted winter programme reflects the lower natural seasonal demand, which helps us lower capacity to suit demand across the winter but just as importantly allows us to reduce cost in what remains a very challenging business environment with fuel price alone currently up almost 130% year on year,” it said.
“This reduction in flying will also create additional capacity for planned maintenance, improve fleet readiness ahead of summer 2027, and allow aircraft and crews to support growing charter and energy-sector operations.
“Customers affected by cancellations or schedule changes will be contacted directly and will be offered alternative Loganair services where available or a refund.”
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A Loganair spokesperson added that the “deeper than normal” winter cuts reflect a “need to reduce flying in the face of both seasonal demand reductions and a very challenging business environment with significant fuel price rises”.
Matheson told the transport committee on Wednesday that the decision was about “managing our cost” over the challenging winter months.
And Loganair’s head of government and corporate affairs Simon McNamara said that other regional airlines were reporting “bleak” outlooks over the winter.
“Some airlines are reporting 30 per cent capacity cuts,” he said.
“It’s a very, very brutal economic situation out there. We’re not immune to that.”
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