Loganair announces search for new Chief Executive

Mr Adams who joined from Singapore-based Tiger Airways in January 2013, will remain in post until April this year, having led a company-wide initiative to improve the operational performance of the business in recent months.

Loganair chairman David Harrison said: “Stewart has been an extremely hardworking chief executive and he has provided strong leadership since he joined us three years ago. He informed the board of his decision late last year and is scheduled to leave in April. We would like to thank him for his efforts during what has been a challenging period.

“His experience has proved to be a significant asset, particularly while we have been developing a major raft of initiatives to ensure our punctuality and customer service are soon back at the levels which our customers have rightly come to expect from us over many years.

“We have already begun to undertake a worldwide search to identify a new chief executive with the drive, skills and expertise to deliver on the commitments we have made to our customers and the communities we serve.

“We are hopeful that this process will be completed quickly and that we can conclude an effective handover in the spring.”

Mr Adams said: “It has been a great privilege to lead such an important organisation and its fantastic staff for the past three years. The widespread improvement initiatives we launched last year are already having a positive impact and our strong financial performance in recent years has also made possible the largest investment programme in the company’s history.

“For personal reasons the time is now right for me to step down and I am confident that the strong foundations which have been laid will help enable the new chief executive to continue the company’s expansion and growth.”

The company, which operates 31 routes across the Scottish Highlands & Islands and the rest of the UK, earlier this month announced it was significantly increasing its annual investment programme to £15m.

The £15m investment programme includes:

• £4m on the purchase of two 50-seater Saab 2000 aircraft

• £1.5m to buy a 31-seater Dornier 328 turboprop

• £3.5m to begin a three-year programme of major passenger upgrades for the workhorse of its fleet, the Saab 340, significantly improving journey comfort and convenience

• £6m investment in a new spares hub at Glasgow Airport which will carry the most regularly-used parts – allowing far faster and more efficient servicing and repairs