Council to make airport complaint

HIAL said resolving the issue at Stornoway was a priority

A council said it plans to complain to the Scottish Executive about closures of Stornoway Airport.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) has to shut Stornoway to flights for 30 minutes twice a day to meet working time regulations.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) said the situation was "unacceptable" and "intolerable".

A lack of traffic controllers led to Stornoway closing last Monday afternoon when the duty controller fell ill.

Five scheduled return flights had to be cancelled.

'Second class'

HIAL has met council representatives to discuss staff shortages which have impacted on the airport since January.

The airport operator said a number of controllers have left and were still to be replaced and resolving the issue remained a priority.

However, council convener Alex MacDonald said the authority would be asking the executive to look at how services could be improved and how to avoid such situations in future.

He said the council would not tolerate a "second class service".