Glasgow-based regional carrier Loganair has “taken the difficult decision” to suspend some Highlands services for more than six weeks from mid-March owing to industrial action by workers at Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL).
Loganair has written to passengers confirming the temporary cessation of services from Inverness to Stornoway and Benbecula, and from Inverness to Kirkwall and Sumburgh, from March 17 to the end of April.
In a statement, Loganair said passengers affected by strike action at HIAL airports on certain days over the next two weeks had already been offered alternative flights or a full refund.
But the carrier said the impact of plans for an additional work to rule by airport staff would be “far less predictable” and necessitated the suspension.
It noted that it would be impossible to cover any absence by airport workers rostered to work during the action through overtime or swapping shifts and as result “shifts cannot be manned to the required minimum levels to enable flights to take place”.
This would risk causing cancellations and delays “with either very limited advance notice or none at all”, according to the carrier.
It said Loganair flights operating from HIAL airports to destinations unaffected by the industrial action, including Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen, should “generally be managed within operational flexibility on the day”.
But flights between HIAL airports – from Inverness to Kirkwall and Sumburgh, and Inverness to Stornoway – would be subject to restrictions at each airport in turn making it “impossible to reasonably assure the provision of a service”.
The airline said: “Against this background, Loganair has taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend its services from Inverness to Stornoway and Benbecula, and from Inverness to Kirkwall and Sumburgh.
“The suspension will take effect from Friday 17 March – when Inverness is closed due to strike action – and will initially run until April 30.
“Customers booked on Loganair flights between these points will be contacted and offered the option of rebooking on alternative routes or a full refund.”
A Loganair spokesperson said: “We understand this unprecedented step will be unwelcome news to communities who depend on the air services Loganair provides.
“It’s a step we’re 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, if unwelcome, certainty around which our customers can adjust travel plans, as opposed to the risk of on-the-day flight cancellations or significant delays.”
The spokesperson added: “We hope the period of suspension will provide time and space for the parties to this dispute to meet and reach a resolution, enabling these services to resume.”