Calling for a Regional Air Strategy for the Highlands and Islands

That the Parliament recognises that, for many island, coastal and rural communities, including those in Orkney, short-haul flights that connect them with mainland Scotland and the rest of the UK are a lifeline service, providing vital transport links for NHS patients, local businesses and the wider community; notes the deep concern of communities regarding the recent decision by Loganair to reduce services on routes from Inverness that connect the Northern and Western Isles with mainland Scotland, and the wider concern that this reflects an ongoing pattern of consolidation by the operator, which has cited the financial unsustainability of certain routes; recognises that reductions in flight availability and increasing fares can adversely affect the resilience and economies of island, coastal and rural communities; understands that the Scottish Government has already committed funding to restore air services from Inverness to island communities from October; notes the view that a long-term strategy is required to support a resilient, sustainable and accessible air transport network and that the development of such a strategy must be led by Scottish Ministers in collaboration with relevant stakeholders and informed by the needs and perspectives of island and coastal communities, and welcomes recent steps by the Scottish Government to take this work forward, while noting the call for this work to be done as a matter of urgency.