Scotland’s island communities can count on Loganair despite sale plans, says boss

The CE of Glasgow-based airline Loganair has promised to continue serving isolated Scottish Highland and island communities that depend on it, despite being put up for sale. Jonathan Hinkles was speaking after the announcement in October by owners Stephen and Peter Bond that they wanted to dispose of Loganair as they moved into retirement. The Bond brothers are aviation entrepreneurs, having inherited the Bond Helicopters business founded by their father, which they sold in 2011. Stephen Bond is 72 and Peter 61. Loganair provides vital services such as supplying perishable food weekly to North Ronaldsay in the Orkneys during a winter break in the island’s ferry service. It carries children from some islands to school. Hinkles said he had told officials from the Scottish and Isle of Man governments and officials from local councils in other areas, including the Western Isles and Shetland, that he expected any sale to have no effect on the airline’s commitment to their areas. “I have told all the actors within government . . . there have been five different sets of owners of Loganair and we’re still here,” Hinkles saidw. “You can fully expect us to still be here despite a sixth exchange of ownership.” Hinkles added that he had been asked after one consultation session what would happen if the airline went to a new buyer that had no interest in serving the remote communities that Loganair currently serves. He replied that he could see no reason for an owner uninterested in those markets to buy the airline.<br/>