Concerns over Flybe's Gatwick slots sell-off to Easyjet

Flybe flies between Inverness and Gatwick

Business leaders and politicians have raised concerns over the future of Inverness's links with London Gatwick.

A three-times-a-day service operated by Flybe is in doubt following the airline's decision to sell all of its take-off and landing slots at Gatwick.

Easyjet, which also operates a Gatwick-Inverness service, is set to take over the slots next March in a £20m deal.

There are worries that the frequency and timings of the Inverness connections will be affected.

Transport Minister Keith Brown said he had been in contact with Easyjet.

He said: "The prospect of cuts to Inverness Gatwick services is deeply worrying and I have requested an urgent meeting with Easyjet, with a view to ensuring capacity on this service is maintained.

"While I welcome the confirmation that the current level of service will continue until March 2014, it is essential for the economic development of the Highlands region that the service is maintained beyond summer 2014.

"I have already had discussions with Easyjet this morning and will be keeping in regular touch to press the case."

The Inverness and Scottish chambers of commerce, the Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Highland Council and politicians are among those raising concerns.

The sale is part of a cost-cutting programme for the airline. About 600 workers have been made redundant and pilots have agreed a 5% pay cut.

Flybe serves a number of destinations directly from its Gatwick hub, including Belfast, the Isle of Man, Guernsey, Jersey, Newcastle and Inverness.

The airline said the deal was subject to shareholders' approval and that it would continue to operate all the slots until March 2014.

Stewart Nicol, of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said the availability of connections at the moment meant Highland firms could do a day's business in London.

Drew Hendry, leader of Highland Council, said he hoped Easyjet would recognise the importance of the Flybe service to the region's economy.

Fraser Grieve, the Highlands and Islands manager for the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), expressed concern about the deal and called for urgent steps to safeguard the flights.

He said: "Flybe's decision highlights the vulnerability that regional routes into London face as a result of a lack of capacity at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports and the financial value of these slots.

"The air connections to and from Inverness are vital economic links and the move to Easyjet will likely result in both a loss of service and a lack of competition on the route."

He added: "The UK's leading international gateways must be able to accommodate the economic needs of the whole of the UK.

"Oil and gas services and food and drink in the north are two of the UK's leading exports and they must be able to reach overseas markets. Tourists and investors must also be able to get to the north of Scotland."

SNP MSPs have accused Lib Dem MP Danny Alexander of "hypocrisy" in a political row over the future of Gatwick-Inverness links.

Mr Alexander, who is MP for Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey and chief secretary to the Treasury, said "astronomical increases" in landing charges at Gatwick had hit Flybe hard.

Mr Alexander said: "Last year's Civil Aviation Authority investigation changed nothing, but we need to press Gatwick to think again in the light of the damaging economy impact.

"There is clearly an opportunity for Easyjet to strengthen its Inverness to Gatwick services, but keeping early morning and late evening services will be critical for business, as will the ability easily to connect onto international flights."

He added: "I welcome Easyjet's positive commitment to building on its Inverness connections, as well Flybe's commitment to maintaining its other services."

'Working tirelessly'

However, the SNP said the cost of the UK government-levied Air Passenger Duty (APD) was to blame and had hampered Flybe's ability to make its links profitable.

Fergus Ewing, SNP MSP for Inverness and Nairn, said: "The loss of these services would be a hammer blow for the Highlands.

"The Inverness Flybe service is the one used by Danny Alexander to get to Westminster - and now it is being withdrawn, in part because APD is too high.

"That is because of the taxation policies of Danny Alexander's own government - and he is guilty of the most appalling hypocrisy on this issue."

Liz Cameron, chief executive of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, said that both Scottish and UK governments had failed to protect the Gatwick-Inverness link.

She said: "Government action is required north and south of the border to help to sustain and grow Scotland's aviation market.

"Our airports are working tirelessly to serve the needs of Scotland but they are being hamstrung by a lack of support from government.

"Our politicians at Westminster and Holyrood need to recognise the critical role that our air links play in our economy and deliver the right environment and support for both the airports and airlines."

Easyjet said it was looking into the possibility of maintaining some of Flybe's Highland links with London.

A spokeswoman said Easyjet was already committed to serving Inverness and carried twice as many passengers as Flybe to London each year.