Loganair takes over five flybmi routes from Aberdeen
Loganair has stepped in to secure five key air routes from Aberdeen to Bristol, Oslo and Esbjerg, as well as Newcastle to Brussels and Stavanger, following news that flybmi has gone into administration a significant expansion of the airlines Aberdeen base.
Courtesy Loganair
Commencing on 4th March 2019, Loganair will operate the services using a 49-seat Embraer 145 aircraft (above), a move which will come as great relief to the city’s business community given the importance of the routes.
The first time the airline has flown to Denmark, it will provide daily weekday rotations between Aberdeen and Denmark’s fifth largest city of Esbjerg, departing the North East at 10.20am, and arriving one hour and 20 minutes later. The return flight goes airborne at 1.15pm – enabling a morning’s work in the thriving seaport town – renowned for its oil and fishing industries.
It will also offer six services per week to Norway’s capital on weekdays and Sunday, with an early 9.30am flight on Mondays and a 1.40pm trip scheduled for the remaining five days – another new destination for Loganair.
Passengers can travel with Loganair to Bristol six days per week, excluding Saturdays, with two southbound services now scheduled each Sunday.
The move will considerably expand Loganair’s presence in Aberdeen Airport, where the airline already operates over 50 flights flights per week.
Loganair has also expressed interest in the Derry to Stansted PSO service, as they have an extensive track record as a PSO provider and knowledge of the Derry market given they already operate to Derry from Glasgow.
Last Thursday (14th February), Transport Secretary Chris Grayling confirmed that the UK government, in partnership with the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland, will subsidise the route between City of Derry Airport and London Stansted.
Jonathan Hinkles (above), Loganair’s managing director said: “It’s always really sad to see an airline go out of business, and our thoughts are with all those affected – particularly staff members. We’re working on employment opportunities for pilots, cabin crew and engineering support staff to strengthen the Loganair team.
"There is no doubt that trading is tough, but Loganair is – we believe – in the strongest position of any UK regional airline. We’ve done a lot of work over the last two years to secure our future as an independent regional airline, and despite the challenges posed by fuel and carbon costs and Brexit, we are strongly placed to take up new opportunities as they arise
"Our five new routes from Aberdeen complement our existing activity across a distinct geographical area, acting as a logical fit with our network – while also markedly increasing the airline’s presence in Aberdeen.”