Orkney MSP Liam McArthur has called for a long term regional aviation strategy for the Highlands and Islands, warning that recent disruption has exposed the vulnerability of lifeline air connections relied upon by island communities.
McArthur led a Scottish Parliament debate on Thursday 1 October after his motion calling for a regional air strategy secured cross party support at Holyrood.
Opening the debate, he called for strong and sustained leadership from Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn to ensure work already underway results in meaningful reform rather than another review whose recommendations are never delivered.
The debate follows a turbulent period for regional aviation after services connecting Inverness with the Northern and Western Isles were reduced earlier this year, prompting concern about the effect on passengers who depend on those flights for healthcare, work and essential travel.
Full service levels on the affected Inverness routes are being restored from October following Scottish Government intervention, but McArthur argued that the episode demonstrated how vulnerable the wider network remains.
Among those affected were patients travelling from Orkney for treatment in Inverness, with members of Orkney Visually Impaired People’s Group raising concerns about difficulties reaching ophthalmology appointments at the National Treatment Centre.
McArthur said rising fares, reduced services and the consolidation of routes demonstrated the need for a longer term approach capable of keeping lifeline flights affordable, accessible and reliable.
Accessibility remains another significant concern, particularly for passengers with mobility problems using the Islander aircraft which serves some of Orkney’s smaller islands.
McArthur has again invited the Transport Secretary to Orkney to see a prototype lifting device which could provide a solution for passengers currently unable to access the aircraft easily.
Following the debate, McArthur said:
“Cuts to the Inverness routes this summer exposed the vulnerability of these lifeline air services.
“I welcome the fact that these have been reinstated but the threat remains, while we are also seeing services merged or reduced across the network.
“So we cannot continue with this managed decline.
“I welcome the Transport Secretary’s engagement to date and the strong cross-party support there has been for charting a new way forward.
“I also pay tribute to the work already done by HITRANS, ZetTRANS and others in developing proposals, drawing on the experience elsewhere in the world.
“While good progress has been made, however, it is vital that the Cabinet Secretary continues to give strong and sustained leadership to this process.
“Without that any recommendations risk being left on the shelf.
“This review must lead to meaningful action.
“We know that the current network is failing our island communities, whether through unaffordable fares, consolidation of key routes or a lack of physical accessibility.
“Loganair have been clear too, that without further investment down the line, routes may once again be under threat.
“Good progress has been made in recent months and today’s debate demonstrated the strong cross-party commitment to developing and delivering a long term strategy for air services across the region.
“But threats remain in the short term and I will continue to press the Scottish Government as well as Loganair to ensure the interests of islanders are protected.”
The debate demonstrated broad political support for looking beyond individual route crises towards a regional approach to aviation, with the challenge now turning to whether that work can produce a network capable of giving Highland and island communities the dependable connections they need.
