Question reference: S6W-01936
- Asked by: Oliver Mundell, MSP for Dumfriesshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 28 July 2021
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Current status: Answered by Graeme Dey on 23 August 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to support the retention of connectivity and direct routes at Scotland’s airports, in light of recent decisions by airlines to suspend flights.
Answer
The Scottish Government continue to work closely with Scotland’s airports and airlines to help restore connectivity.
Transport Scotland, working in partnership with VisitScotland and Scottish Development International, has a well-established process in place to help Scotland’s airports recover routes lost as well as help secure new ones. Our ambition is to return to pre-Covid levels of connectivity as quickly as possible without restoring previous levels of emissions. We will remain focussed on restoring previous routes and securing new routes that are essential for inbound tourism, business connectivity and the economy as a whole.
We have a positive track record in helping airports secure new routes which meant that in 2019 Scotland was better connected than ever before. We do not underestimate the challenge but share the ambition of Scotland’s airports to make Scotland as well connected as peer nations and regions.