Scots airline winds up services

Two of the firm's Glasgow flights are being dropped

A small Scottish airline is to stop operating two of its scheduled passenger services at the end of the week due to falling passenger numbers.

The Highland Airways daily return between Inverness and Glasgow and the twice daily return between Glasgow and Benbecula will end on Thursday.

All pre-booked passengers will be notified and full refunds provided, a company spokesman said.

Highland Airways has operated the services since November.

We have come to the conclusion that passenger bookings are not increasing Basil O'Fee Highland Airways

Commercial manager Basil O'Fee said: "We have been running these services since 3 November and average loads have been disappointing.

"The Inverness-Glasgow service only attracted an average of four to five passengers per flight and an average of seven passengers used the Glasgow-Benbecula service.

"Despite three months of effort and marketing, including good value discounts and offers, we have come to the conclusion that passenger bookings are not increasing sufficiently to justify further financial underwriting of these services that are operated at our own commercial risk."

Highland Airways said the decision had no impact on its other activities and it will continue to play an important role in the Scottish aviation scene.

Its other services include scheduled flights, air freight, charter and reconnaissance.