Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles has stepped down after more than seven years.
He made the decision as the UK regional airline operated its final Saab 340 flight last week.
Writing on LinkedIn, Hinkles, who steered the Scottish carrier through the pandemic, said: “I’ve always thought that when the curtain falls, it’s time to get off the stage right away.”
Executive chairman Peter Simpson, who steps into the role of interim chief executive, said: “We were content to agree to Jonathan’s request to leave in a way that did not involve a protracted notice period.
“The board and employees of Loganair wish to express our thanks to Jonathan for his leadership over the seven and a half years and wish him well for the future.
“The hugely experienced team within Loganair will continue to ensure that the day-to-day operations to the communities we serve, will continue unabated.”
Hinkles said it was time for a change “just as much for me as it is for Loganair” after seven and a half years at the helm.
“Running an airline is probably the most full-time job imaginable, and one which requires pretty much 24/7 attention in one shape or form,” Hinkles said.
“Checking the freighter crews are away for their night’s work before going to bed; checking again straight after the morning alarm whether the first wave of the new day’s flights is up and away, how ticket sales fared yesterday, reading through safety reports, and getting up to speed on key issues is a daily routine, seven days a week, even when on holiday. It truly takes its toll.
“And so, after seven and a half years – a tenure longer than any other UK airline CEO bar one and also one of the longer-serving CEOs in Loganair’s proud 62-year history – it’s time for a change.
“It serves no-one well for there to be a prolonged period of farewells, uncertainty and indecision in leadership. With all that in mind, I left the building for the final time a few hours ago,” he wrote after the last Saab aircraft in the fleet landed at Glasgow airport on Thursday.