Lower air fares for residents of Barra and Tiree

Residents of Barra and Tiree are to be offered cheaper fares for flights to and from Glasgow.

The lower-cost ticket prices form part of a new four-year £24m contract for the lifeline services, which are subsidised by the Scottish government.

Loganair, which currently operates the public service obligation (PSO) routes, has been awarded the contract. It starts from Wednesday.

For the next year, the maximum price for a single journey for Barra will be £91 and £81 for Tiree, with the Tiree fare also being made available for residents of neighbouring Coll.

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Transport Scotland said Loganair was free to charge lower fares if it wished, while non-resident prices would be set on a commercial basis by the airline.

Currently, air fares can be up to £156 for journeys between Barra and Glasgow and almost £200 from Tiree.

The new contract also includes providing more flight for Barra during busy periods, and also making sure seats are available for medical patients at short notice during peak travel times.