Loganair welcomes Government approval for new Heathrow routes

"The UK Department for Transport has now confirmed Loganair's plans for Dundee Airport into Heathrow"

The UK Department for Transport has now confirmed Loganair’s plans to move Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services from City of Derry and Dundee Airports into Heathrow, in a move described by the airline as a “gamechanger” for regional connectivity.

The UK’s largest regional airline announced its intention earlier this week to move the Dundee and Derry flights - currently linked to the capital via London City Airport and Stansted respectively - to London Heathrow, subject to Government consent.

That approval has now been received from the UK Secretary of State for Transport, affirming the move of City of Derry and Dundee services into Heathrow’s Terminal 2 from Saturday 6 May.  This will be the first ever link between Derry and Heathrow, and for Dundee, restores an air link last offered almost 40 years ago.

Scottish island communities in Orkney and Shetland also stand to benefit from the move as Loganair’s same-plane services from Kirkwall Airport in the Orkney Islands and Sumburgh Airport in the Shetland Islands via Dundee will fly to London Heathrow from Sunday 7 May.   

Moving to London Heathrow brings a range of global flight connections to customers, who can also benefit from Loganair’s multiple interline and codeshare agreements. This includes a long-standing relationship with British Airways, the largest airline at Heathrow, with worldwide connections from all four new domestic destinations bookable via ba.com from Friday 21 April.

The new routes – operated by Loganair’s locally-based crews in Derry and Dundee – will provide new inward investment opportunities and tourism into the UK’s regions.  

Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair’s Chief Executive, said: “This is a milestone moment for Loganair - and indeed for regional connectivity.

“With approval from the Department for Transport and opening of worldwide connections for booking with British Airways, we’re now all set for this move to Heathrow. It will be revolutionary for connectivity for Derry and Dundee and the regions that the airports serve, and the benefits will be felt as far afield as Orkney and Shetland too.” 

Aviation Minister Baroness Vere said: “Our funding continues to sustain these vital transport links, support local jobs, and provide passengers with more options whilst travelling between London, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

“By approving the move to Heathrow, we’re boosting local economies in Derry/Londonderry and Dundee, and passengers will enjoy more onward connections.”

Today (21 April), British Airways has confirmed it will extend its partnership with Loganair adding 11 new routes to its codeshare agreement. The expansion will now give British Airways’ customers access to 46 of Loganair’s UK routes, meaning that customers can book onward connections from destinations across the airline’s route network, or point to point travel in the UK more easily through British Airways’ website. Customers who book onto these selected routes operated by Loganair through ba.com can also earn Avios and Tier points as part of British Airways’ Executive Club programme.

The new routes available to book from later today include:

• Aberdeen to Newcastle
• Belfast City to Dundee
• Belfast City to Inverness*
• Isle of Man to Cornwall, Newquay
• London Heathrow to Dundee
• London Heathrow to Kirkwall, Orkney
• London Heathrow to Sumburgh, Shetland
• Southampton to Stornoway
• Manchester to Sumburgh, Shetland
• Manchester to Stornoway*
• Dublin to Inverness**

Jonathan added: “We welcome the news of our codeshare agreement expansion with British Airways. This is a cherished partnership and one which further consolidates our position as the go-to airline for connectivity across the United Kingdom.”