Scottish Lib Dem MPs call for 'alternative carrier' for cancelled Eastern Airways flights 

Jamie Stone, MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, and Alistair Carmichael, MP for Orkney and Shetland, have written to both the UK and Scottish Government to demand an alternative carrier for Eastern Airways flights, in light of the company facing administration.

Eastern Airways, which was established in 1997, flies between a number of domestic airports in the UK. These include Aberdeen, Humberside, London Gatwick, Newquay, Teesside International and Wick.

On Monday, the company filed a notice of intention to appoint an administrator at the insolvency and companies court within the high court. This has ceased all operations - with all flights cancelled.

Crucially, the subsidised Wick to Aberdeen service in Mr Stone’s constituency has operated flights under a public service obligation (PSO) funded by the Scottish Government and Highland Council since April 2022.

A PSO is a requirement imposed on a company in order to ensure the provision of vital public services, like regional air routes, that might otherwise be at risk of financial inviability on a purely commercial basis.

The initial three-year subsidy for the route was extended this year until April 2026, upon the understanding that the link is crucial for those living in Caithness, who are more isolated from alternative routes.  

Additionally, in Mr Carmichael’s constituency, cancelled flights have had knock-on repercussions for operations at oil and gas platforms, which rely on Eastern Airways to transport their workers from Sumburgh airport in Shetland.

Following these cancellations, Mr Stone and Mr Carmichael have called on both the UK and Scottish Government to work together to find an ‘alternative carrier’ for the flights that Eastern Airways have cancelled. They have also demanded reassurance of compensation for all passengers affected.

Commenting, Mr Stone said:

“This flight path is a lifeline for those living in Caithness, who already don’t have the same access to public transport as those living elsewhere in Scotland. The same can be said for Islanders.

“As regional air route subsidies are devolved to the Scottish Parliament and UK-wide aviation is reserved to the UK Parliament, we need to see both governments working together on this issue for the sake of everyone involved.

“An alternative carrier for these flights needs to be identified - I've already written to the Chief Executive of Loganair to explore this possibility.

“This is a matter which requires swift and urgent action and we expect it to be dealt with accordingly.

“In the meantime, I want to see plans for the compensation of any passengers who will be affected by this news, at the very least.”

Mr Carmichael added:

“Eastern Airways may be a regional airline but its suspension of operations will have an impact all across the UK including in the Northern Isles. It is vital that both our governments give reassurances about the future of these services and clarity about how they will support workers and customers who are affected.

“These services are critical to local people and workers in the North of Scotland and those working in the North Sea. The last thing we need is for them to be put in doubt – so we need an early answer from ministers on how they are going to stabilise this situation.”