|
FEARS that British Regional Airlines would cut costs by using Shorts 360's on the longer air routes to the Islands have been realised.
On Saturday the unpopular aircraft will be introduced on new Saturday flights out of Glasgow to Benbecula and Stornoway, and from Inverness to Stornoway.
Yesterday the announcement was condemned by Comhairle nan Eilean convener, Mr Donald M Mackay. He told the Gazette: "This is what we suspected would happen all along that they would start to use 360's. The whole thing has been about saving money from the outset of this new arrangement. Without the backing of BA, if you are going to make it viable you either have a cut in level of service or a change in the type of aircraft used."
He continued the public at large should be getting concerned about air services to the Islands, especially as British Regional Airlines had been caught out again last week with no back up aircraft when a Glasgow-Stornoway flight was aborted on take-off. Passengers were delayed for more than four hours at Abbotsinch Airport while a replacement plane was brought from Manchester. The flight eventually arrived in Stornoway at 8 pm.
The convener said he personally found the Shorts 360 an uncomfortable aircraft. While it was adequate for the shorter Stornoway-Benbecula hop, the 360 was totally unsuitable for the longer flights to Inverness and Glasgow.
These new air service complaints follow a call for an urgent meeting with British Airways to stress that the service being provided in the Highlands and Islands is second class and an improved service is being demanded.
The concern has come from the conveners of local councils in the Highlands and Islands following talks in Inverness.
Top representatives from Comhairle nan Eilean, Highland Council, Moray Council, Argyll and Bute Council, and Orkney and Shetland Councils have pledged a vigorous campaign to improve the level of air service provided to island communities.
Mr Mackay went on there was now ample evidence that the franchise air links are a diminution in service and it is incumbent on BA to examine the arrangements again because they are simply not acceptable. The long term solution, however, is recognition by the Government that subsidy is necessary for life line services to the Islands.
These air links are never going to be sustainable because of the low population base, and it is time the UK government followed the lead of other European states like France, Spain and Greece and subsidised air services to islands.
Said the Convener: "The level of services has certainly deteriorated without question. I was prepared to give them (British Regional Airlines) time, but my patience has gone. The situation has to be resolved one way or another. BA has to re-assess its position." Original article Stornoway Gazette Apr 08 1997.
|
