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DRAMATIC improvements in the viability of Highland and Island air routes are a cause for optimism for the future, operators British Regional Airlines said this week.
Playing down as a scare claims that the services could be dropped in three years' time if they do not show a profit, British Regional Airlines state they are confident the routes will pay their way.
British Regional Airlines' Director of Scottish Services, Ian Woodley told the Gazette: "People have to run their businesses efficiently and we are committed to doing that. We have already been getting some good results. We are not at all pessimistic, we are extremely optimistic."
Last week's comment about a three year review of the air services was "nothing more than any company would say about the running of its business," said Mr Woodley.
He was disappointed at the spin put on the remark and feels the statement has to be regarded in the context of air services formerly provided by a large international airline now being operated by a much smaller company committed to the proper and efficient running of its business.
While retaining the powerful BA brand name, British Regional Airlines had taken on the loss-making Highland and Islands air routes from BA last November and, as a low cost operator, they are striving to make the services viable. This, said Mr Woodley, had now been achieved. Just five months after taking over from BA, the routes are pulling their financial weight due to growth in passengers numbers and the smaller overheads of British Regional Airlines.
In the first quarter of 1997 passenger numbers on the Stornoway-Glasgow and Stornoway-Inverness routes are up by 5.6 per cent, a significant factor in the growth being the active selling of lower promotional fares for leisure passengers, says the airline company.
Pledging that there is no threat to services, the British Regional Airlines director declared: "In three years' time if there were no signs of improvement in losses then they would have to be reviewed. But the routes are making improvements already just as we predicted. The routes are becoming viable - there is no sword hanging over them."
He is now anxious to hold talks with Comhairle nan Eilean to dispel any fears there may be about the future of the lifeline services to the Western Isles. It is hoped this meeting can take place within the next few weeks.
Comhairle nan Eilean Transportation Committee chairman, Mr Alex Macdonald is equally keen to meet with the airline. He explained: "We are obviously trying to get best service possible at all times. The service we are getting at the moment is not as good despite British Regional Airlines claiming their punctuality and service is better than BA. We are seeking official figures from the airports on that so we can judge for ourselves."
Mr Macdonald said he was concerned at the number of long delays that were occurring and the introduction of Shorts 360's onto the extra Saturday flights. He is alarmed that the airline may now try to get the unpopular plane to do the flights on other days too.
Another worry is British Regional Airlines adding the smaller 34-seater Saab 340 to the fleet, further reducing the scope for APEX and other discounted tickets
Meanwhile, the British Regional Airlines group, who along with Loganair fly in the Highlands and Islands as British Airways Express, have announced that they are basing a fully crewed back up ATP aircraft at Glasgow at a cost in excess of £1 million per year.
This follows a number of long delays when the airline had to fly replacement aircraft north from Manchester.
Original article Stornoway Gazette Apr 10 1997.
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