Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Rhoda Grant, has lodged two Parliamentary Questions on the effect of Covid-19 on the region’s aviation industry.
Mrs Grant is questioning the Scottish Government on what assessment it has made of the impact on Highlands and Islands air routes in the light of the pandemic and what it plans to do to protect the region’s connectivity.
She has also asked the Scottish Government what it plans to do in the light of Loganair suspending its Inverness/Shetland service and following the collapse of the two air routes from Wick John O’ Groats airport.
Mrs Grant’s Highlands and Islands colleague, Labour MSP David Stewart, has continued to press the Government to bring in a Public Service Obligation – a type of state aid – on the Wick routes to help the future development of the area.
“It’s vitally important the Scottish Government preserves and protects all the region’s air routes,” said Mr Grant.
“These are lifeline services and should be recognised as such. It shows the need for more Public Service Obligations to protect our routes to our islands and remote communities.”
Question S5W-32449: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/10/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the impact on Highlands and Islands air routes of the COVID-19 restrictions, and what action it is taking to protect the region’s aviation connectivity.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 06/11/2020
Question S5W-32450: Rhoda Grant, Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 09/10/2020
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking in response to (a) Loganair (i) suspending its Inverness-Shetland and (ii) ending its Wick-Edinburgh service and (b) Eastern Airways ending its Wick-Aberdeen service; what discussions it has had with (A) the relevant chambers of commerce and (B) other stakeholders regarding this, including whether there is a business case for a Public Service Obligation (PSO) to be considered, and by what date it expects a solution to this issue will be announced.