Scottish agents take action to secure ‘vital’ link to Gatwick
Scottish travel agency group, the SPAA, is in talks with easyJet, Flybe, Gatwick and the UK and Scottish Governments in a bid to secure "vital" Inverness to Gatwick flights.
In a statement released today, it expressed its "real concern" regarding the recently-announced sale by Flybe of its 25 Gatwick take-off and landing slots as part of its plans for a return to profitability.
Easyjet, which bought the slots, has not yet given details of its plans.
SPAA president Kevin Thom said: “The possibility of the loss of our vital Inverness-Gatwick service is serious enough, but the implications for travellers connecting worldwide from the Scottish Highlands and Islands are just as serious, if not more so.
"Our members work with easyJet and we are very keen to see that carrier continuing to offer a comprehensive service between Gatwick and Inverness in Flybe’s absence, but of course that would not resolve the issue of lost airline alliance and code share benefits currently enjoyed by passengers."
"The acceptance of Inverness-Gatwick as a ‘lifeline’ route is already enshrined in its exclusion, along with other services from the Highlands and Islands, from traveller APD charges."
It hopes the talks will find a solution, possibly a reduction by Gatwick or financial intervention by the Government.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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