Rhoda asks questions on the effect of Covid on aviation industry

Mrs Grant is questioning the Scottish Government on what assessment it has made of the impact on Highlands and Islands air routes in the light of the pandemic and what it plans to do to protect the region’s connectivity.

She has also asked the Scottish Government what it plans to do in the light of Loganair suspending its Inverness/Shetland service and following the collapse of the two air routes from Wick’s John O’ Groats airport.

Mrs Grant’s Highlands and Islands colleague, Labour MSP David Stewart, has continued to press the Government to bring in a Public Service Obligation – a type of state aid - on the Wick routes to help the future development of the area.

“It’s vitally important the Scottish Government preserves and protects to the best of its ability, all the region’s air routes,” said Mr Grant.

“These are lifeline services and should be recognised as such. It shows there is a real need for more Public Service Obligations to be in force to protectthese vital routes to our islands which serve some of the remotest communities in Scotland.”