The Scottish regional airline Loganair has from Monday 1st June resumed passenger flights at Birmingham Airport, re-establishing non-stop jet services to Aberdeen as the first step to restoring full services at the Midlands airport after the Covid-19 pandemic and the collapse of Flybe.
The first flight took off at 18:20 from Birmingham to Aberdeen and services will initially operate four times each week – on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays – ahead of an increase to two flights each way per weekday linking Birmingham with Aberdeen from 31 August.
Loganair’s flights between Birmingham and Inverness will resume on 6 July, and will also fly on four days per week initially before building to a daily service during August. The airline is also pressing ahead with its plans to restore the former Flybe route linking Birmingham with the Isle of Man. Subject to continued progress on easing of lockdown restrictions and travel quarantine restrictions in the Isle of Man, Loganair expects to make a formal announcement about the launch of this service in the coming weeks.
Tom Screen, Aviation Director, Birmingham Airport, said: “We are delighted to see Loganair returning to flying from Birmingham, serving these key routes to Aberdeen and Inverness. The team at Loganair have placed significant emphasis on safety and we look forward to welcoming them and their customers through Birmingham in the coming week.”
The Glasgow-based airline has continued to fly more services than any other UK passenger airline during the crisis, providing essential services throughout on its key lifeline routes to the Scottish islands during April and May.
All flights will be operated under the “Safe Steps to Healthy Flying” protocols which Loganair announced on 14 May – becoming the first UK airline to set out detailed plans on how customer safety will be attained and maintained whilst Covid-19 is present. Loganair’s initiatives mirror those later announced by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Loganair chief executive Jonathan Hinkles said: “With many businesses turning their thoughts to re-starting work after the COVID-19 pandemic, the UK’s regional air connectivity will be more important than ever. “For the sake of the recovery of the UK economy, we must enable key workers across the oil & gas, construction, service and healthcare sectors to travel swiftly, comfortably and safely throughout the country. “As well as providing travel guidance on which basis businesses can plan, we believe today’s announcement will also lend confidence to people looking forward to visiting families and friends once social restrictions permit.”
Loganair’s advice to customers regarding travel safety during the current COVID-19 crisis is available on its website, and customers are urged to check for regular updates.
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