Council explores new Dundee to London air link after airport loses last scheduled flight
Loganair's final service left on October 23. Dundee City Council is working on the case for a subsidised public service obligation route, similar to the one that saved Wick.
The terminal building at Dundee Airport, which has had no scheduled commercial flights since October 23. · Photograph: Pictureguy20 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Just two weeks after Dundee Airport's last scheduled commercial flight took off, efforts are under way to reconnect the city with London.
The final scheduled service, operated by Loganair, ended on October 23, leaving the airport without any regular commercial flights.
One of the closest airports to its city
Located just two miles from Dundee city centre, it is one of the closest airports to the city it serves in the UK. However, it handles far fewer flights and passengers than Edinburgh, Glasgow or Inverness.
The final route served as a link between Sumburgh in Shetland and London, and its end left the airport's future in doubt.
Council exploring options
Dundee City Council has confirmed it is exploring new arrangements to restart flights.
A spokesperson said that since Loganair's decision to cease the service, the council has been exploring the economic case for establishing a new Dundee to London route.
"Discussions have been continuing with partners who have supplied funding to the recent PSO, and with colleagues at HIAL (Highlands and Islands Airports Limited)," the spokesperson said.
The Wick model
A public service obligation (PSO) – where public money supports a route that would not otherwise be commercially viable – would likely be similar to the arrangement put in place after Eastern Airways pulled the only scheduled flight from Wick John O'Groats Airport.
Wick is now connected through a PSO operated by Air Charter Scotland to Aberdeen and, more recently, Glasgow.
Local representatives hope the same could happen for Dundee. In the meantime, the Scottish Government continues to fund the airport's operations despite the lack of regular flights.
Government response
A Transport Scotland spokesperson said: "We understand that Dundee City Council are in the process of developing proposals for a new PSO air service to London."