Four more years: Loganair’s Scottish inter-island services contract extended    

The UK’s largest regional airline, Loganair, has announced that it has been awarded a contract extension for the provision of Scottish inter-island services for a further four years. The deal, signed with the Orkney Islands Council, will see the Scottish airline continue to serve vital lifeline public service routes between several outlying islands in the Scottish archipelago that heavily rely on air services for basic community needs.  

The agreement will see Loganair continue to operate the services it already provides to the islands through a Public Service Obligation (PSO) framework from April 1, 2025, until March 31, 2029. The routes covered under the terms of the agreement include those between Kirkwall Airport (KOI) on Orkney and the islands of Westray, Papa Westray, North Ronaldsay, Sanday, Eday, and Stronsay.  

The route between Westray and Papa Westray is famous in aviation circles as it holds the record as being the world’s shortest commercial flight lasting around two minutes airborne time. Loganair serves this route using its fleet of eight-seat Britten Norman Islanders.  

“The inter-island services between Kirkwall and the neighboring islands are vital for the communities and individuals who rely on air transport to travel safely and conveniently for personal and professional reasons,” said Luke Farajallah, Chief Executive Officer of Loganair. “We’re very pleased that we are continuing to play a part in the provision of these services and that the communities we serve can look forward to remaining connected together using our friendly and reliable services in the years ahead. 

“Loganair’s ability to provide these lifeline services is entirely due to the experience and hard work of our dedicated team in Kirkwall, who, for almost 60 years, have been there as an embedded part of the community they live in and serve.” 

“2025 is going to be a very special year for Orkney and the surrounding island communities, and we never take for granted the trust that is placed in us to serve in this wonderful part of Scotland. This announcement allows us to look forward to further developing our relationship with the communities in Orkney and the Islands, providing reliable, sustainable, and affordable air travel for at least the next four years through the award of this contract,” Farajallah concluded.  

GCmap.comThe carrier pioneered the inter-island services in conjunction with the then Orkney Islands Shipping Company in 1967 and has continually maintained the lifeline air links connecting the islands of North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, and Eday with Kirkwall ever since. It bases two of its Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft at Kirkwall Airport to operate the routes and carries around 20,000 customers every year on the various services. The services fulfill a year-round critical role in the delivery of education, healthcare, mail, and other essential services to Orkney’s North Isles.    

Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock“Our inter isles air service is vital to our isles’ communities, whether that be by providing quick and easy access to mainland Orkney and beyond for local folk, bringing itinerant teachers out to our isles’ schools, bringing youngsters into Papdale Halls or offering an alternative to the ferry for our visitors,” said Mellissa Thomson, North Isles Councillor and Vice-Chair of the Development and Infrastructure Committee for Orkney Islands Council. “We’ve been served loyally by Loganair over a number of years, and I’m pleased that, once again, we’ve been able to award the contract to them.” 

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