A campaign aiming to tackle the high cost of island air flights is to exert pressure on the Scottish Government and airport operator, Hial.
The campaign group has changed its name from “Islanders against Flybe and Loganair’s excessive prices” to “Islanders for Fair Air Fares.”
The group said it unfairly associated responsibility for the high cost of travel on Loganair, who are “not the only ones who have a case to answer.”
The change comes after the group successfully lobbied Loganair to introduce a ‘compassionate’ rate for those travelling for family emergencies.
Campaign founder Scott Preston said: “We successfully argued for the introduction of the compassionate fares scheme, and it is now time to continue work on the biggest one: overall fares.
“The Scottish Government and Hial have a lot to do with our prices. We have pushed the government on and increase to ADS and an expansion of the scheme and we look forward to hearing more on this from them soon.
“Hial however remain distant, they do not seem to want to engage or even discuss
how their passenger fee -
In response, Hial said it had met campaigners in August and was willing to meet for further talks. The airport operator highlighted its fees made up only around 9% of a typical Loganair flight.
The new campaign aims are to seek a "significant" reduction in air fares for islanders and an increase in the ADS air discount scheme discount from 40% to 50%.
It also wants ADS to include NHS flights.
Plane fare campaigners criticise airport fees
12 September 2015