Regional airline Loganair has admitted its recent record for passenger delays is unacceptable.
Chief executive Stewart Adams was quizzed for two hours by the transport committee of Western Isles Council in Stornoway on Wednesday.
He heard complaints of flights being cancelled or disrupted for hours, often with passengers being left in the dark over what was happening.
Council leader Angus Campbell relayed one incident where a diverted plane resulted in delayed passengers having to sort out their own overnight accommodation, being transported north in a “dirty” bus and left without even an apology or compensation.
He also told of a family missing a week of their holiday to Canada after a Loganair delay resulted in them losing their onward connection.
Stewart Adams admitted: “Punctuality has not been acceptable."
He added: “Long delays have increased significantly since April. The three hour delay figure needs to decrease dramatically.”
Mr Adams said he has ordered an in-
As a contingency for last minute breakdowns, Loganair has two spare aircraft -
Stewart Adams said he was “shocked at the figures” over delays caused by baggage handling contractors in Glasgow and Edinburgh to the extent they threatened to “tear up the contract” with one firm. They have extended a three month improvement notice after seeing signs of improvement, he added.
Weather, including fog, can cause hold-
Loganair’s prices are relatively high as it simply does not have the huge passenger numbers of budget carriers with around 85% of seats filled, councillors were told.
With 82 million travellers, Ryanair has 142 times the number of passengers compared to Loganair.
Mr Adams pointed out the expected income from expensive last minute seats allows them to sell lower cost tickets in advance.
Loganair is forced to pay “full whack” airport fees compared to the “high subsidies” or discounts given to the bigger airlines, he said.
Unlike the mass cheap airlines, Loganair doesn’t reduce number of days it flies during the slower winter months.
Their mix of different types of planes required for the islands is more expensive and complex to operate.
The airline needs to "remain strong financially and operationally to continue in business, councillors were told.
At present there is no growth of in the number of passengers though they would be looking for 1% or 2% increase each year.
Mr Adams said: "We take all the risk. Some routes are very marginal" while even subsidised services can lose money.
Loganair grilled over flight delays, high fares
23 September 2015