New Dundee to London City flight suspended for two months
The long-awaited service was set to come in this weekend but HIAL is to ground all planes from Sunday due to the coronavirus pandemic
Last updated 26th Mar 2020
A long-awaited return of the Dundee to London City flights has been pushed back till June amid the coronavirus outbreak.
HIAL - which owns the city of discovery airport - is to ground all planes from Sunday.
That's the day a new route to the centre of the capital was to start, but bosses at airline Loganair have confirmed this has been suspended for at least two months.
"A Loganair spokesman said: In conjunction with Dundee City Council, we have taken the decision to suspend the route during April and May.
"We cannot comment further at this stage on its future."
It's not yet clear what this will mean for the long term future of the route.
HIAL’s managing director, Inglis Lyon, said: “Our airports are unique in that their core role is to provide lifeline services for our communities in the Highlands and Islands.
"They are essential to the continued delivery of medical and other critical supplies, the transport of key workers and also enable emergency flights for island communities.
“Now more than ever there is a need to safeguard those vital services.
“I appreciate this crisis is unknown territory for all of us and at this time we do not know how long these essential measures will remain in place.
“We could not maintain these services for our communities without the extraordinary team spirit and commitment displayed by our staff right across the HIAL group and I am indebted to them for their continued flexibility and dedication during a very difficult time for us all.”
Michael Matheson, Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity, said: “Our aviation sector is facing an unprecedented challenge in the face of the coronavirus outbreak, so the Scottish Government is working with industry partners to ensure our lifeline air links continue to operate for the remote communities that depend on them.
“These air routes are crucial for the transport of supplies and key workers, as well as providing a vital link when emergency transport to the mainland is required.
“I also wish to thank all the HIAL staff for their efforts during this difficult time.”
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