OUTER HEBRIDES AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE Minute of Meeting held in the Council Offices, Stornoway, on Thursday 10 March at 11.00am. PRESENT Mr John Mackay, CNES (Chairman) Mr Uisdean Robertson, CNES Mr Iain Mackinnon, CNES Mr Darren Roberts, Eastern Airways Mr Graham Everett, Loganair Mr Gordon Thomas, Lewis Access Panel IN ATTENDANCE Mrs Jeanette Mackay, Loganair. Mr Roderick Mackay, HIAL MrJim Currie, HIAL Mr Lachlan MacPherson, NHS Western Isles APOLOGIES Mr Alan Mackenzie, Visit Scotland Mr Fergus Walker, QinetiQ Mr Duncan Smith, HIAL Mr Gordon Jamieson, NHS Western Isles Mr Kenneth Mackenzie, Hoteliers Association Mr Maurice Boyle, Loganair MINUTE Minute of 1 The Minute of Meeting of 25 June 2015 was approved. Meeting of 25 June 2015 OUTER HEBRIDES AIR SERVICE Eastern 2 Mr Darren Roberts, Communications Manager, represented Eastern Airways at the Airways Meeting. A Report had been submitted by Mr Roberts providing an update as follows. Passenger Numbers Total passenger numbers on the route for the Monday to Friday services for the period August 2015 to January 2016 showed a decrease of 17% decrease in comparison with a same period the previous year an impact of the downturn in the oil and gas sector. On-time Performance In relation to on-time performance the Report stated that reliability had continued to be particularly strong on the route with 92% of all flights from August 2015 to January 2016 operating within 15 minutes of the scheduled departure time. Flight completion, including weather and technical cancellations for the same period had been 100%. New Schedule Mr Roberts confirmed that changes to the schedule for the Stornoway/Aberdeen route would be implemented from 4 April 2016 and that the changes would affect the times and not the frequency. The current schedule operated Monday to Friday offered a 1410 departure from Stornoway and a 1245 departure from Aberdeen. The new schedule offered alternate morning and afternoon daily departures as follows:- Stornoway/Aberdeen Aberdeen/Stornoway 0930 1025 M 0800 0905 M 1435 1530 T 1305 1410 T 0955 1050 W 0825 0930 W 1735 1830 TF 1610 1705 TF Mr Roberts stated that the return fare on the route was £189.00 (inc. Tax) and £130.00 (ADS) and that the airline would also be introducing a one way fare of £113.00 (inc. Tax) and £71.00 (ADS). The Committee were of the view that these were two positive outcomes and that Eastern Airways should engage with the local media to raise awareness. It was agreed to note the Report. OUTER HEBRIDES AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE: 10 MARCH 2016 Loganair Ltd. 3 Mr Graham Everett and Ms Janette Mackay represented Loganair at the Meeting. The Update Report submitted by Mr Everett highlighted the challenges for Loganair over the past year which included an Increase in weather and technical cancellations, an increase in lengthy delays, a decrease in OTP and loss of customer confidence. Mr Everett acknowledged that technical events had been the main driver for delays and that these issues had been identified and currently being addressed under two initiatives, Project ‘Optima’ and Project ’Iris’. As stated in the Report Project Optima addressed the technical issues which had been exacerbated by a shortfall of engineering personnel. The Project sought 62 improvement actions in the engineering sector, 25 of which had been completed, and recruitment and training were currently underway with a view to all actions being completed by the end of April 2016. Mr Everett informed the Committee that the focus of Project Iris would be to improve communications, utilising technology i.e. email notifications to passengers when flights were delayed. The Report detailed operational statistics for January to December 2014 and 2015 which detailed on-time punctuality figures, reliability and performance by route. Comparisons were also provided in relation to passenger data which showed that capacity on the Stornoway/Inverness route were down as a result of less NHS patient travel to Raigemore Hospital and the completion of local construction projects. The Report highlighted the Summer 2016 Schedule and fleet maintenance and overhaul arrangements including the new SAAB340 interior roll-out including the launch of the aircraft ‘Spirit of Lewis’. The Report made mention of the introduction of the Compassionate Fare introduced in September 2015, the ADS discount increased from 40% to 50% and a Press Release detailed a new Student Fare offer across the Scottish network for students and passengers with a Young Scot Card. In conclusion, Mr Everett stated that Loganair would endeavour to work to improve the service and acknowledged in particular the importance of providing a life-line service for NHS patients. Ms Janette Mackay confirmed that local improvements had been evident over the last few weeks. In regard to Loganair’s aspirations to run bigger aircrafts, the Committee sought that cognisance be taken of a reduction in fares to increase passenger numbers. It was agreed to note the Report. Stornoway 4 Mr Jim Currie represented HIAL at the Meeting and addressed an update Report provided Airport by Mr Duncan Smith, Stornoway Airport Manager. The Report stated that passenger movement figures for ten months of the current financial year indicated a reduction of 3,051 passengers through Stornoway Airport, a drop of 2.7% on the previous year. The total passengers up to 31 January 2016 were 109,830. In the same period, aircraft movements were down by 80, a drop of 0.8%. The Report further stated that two capital projects had been completed in 2015/16. The building of a training facility for the local Authority which opened in November 2015 and the purchase of two new fire appliances. Delivery of a new Ambulift on site was anticipated by the end of this financial year. The Report highlighted two other projects planned for 2015/16 the refurbishment of the Gaydon Hangar and the resurfacing of two Taxiways which had been deferred. It was anticipated that the resurfacing project would be undertaken in 2016/17. In relation to third parties, the Report confirmed that Loganair Summer Schedule had been received and was currently being reviewed to confirm Airport opening hours. It was further noted that Bristows staff training had been competed in October 2015 and the Red Arrows had been in Stornoway in June 2015 for a Port Authority display event. There would be aircraft based in Stornoway in support of the biannual Exercise 9-21 April 2016 including Navy Seahawks, with capacity for 30 personnel. It was agreed to note the Report. OUTER HEBRIDES AIRPORT CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE: 10 MARCH 2016 Benbecula 5 The Committee considered a Report submitted by Mr Roddy Mackay, HIAL which provided and Barra an update on Benbecula and Barra Airports. Airports Benbecula Airport The Report provided details of passenger figures and aircraft movements for Benbecula Airport. The total number of passengers and Aircraft movements for Benbecula for the year 2014/15 was 33,896 with a total of 3531 aircraft movements. In comparison to the same period to January 2015, the figures to January 2016 showed:- Passenger numbers were down 4.6% Running passenger total was up 0.2% Aircraft movements were down 3.4% Running Aircraft movement’s was down 0.8% Further updates were provided as follows:- Essential coastal protection repair works had been completed last year. The terminal roof had been replaced. Various projects undertaken in conjunction with the MOD and QinetiQ. The Emergency RVP and Security rest room is in the process of being replaced. Air traffic Controller undertaking training which will add to the locally resourced staffing complement of staff. The Air Traffic Services voice switch was replaced recently with a modern system. The Airfield runway lighting is being replaced in April 2016with energy efficient LED fittings, one of the first Scottish Airports to do so. Barra Airport The Report stated that total number of passenger figures for Barra to the end of January 2016 was 9,850, up 4.7% on the previous year. This was as a result of the Scottish Government putting additional rotations all year round on the last PSO award, plus a Sunday rotation. However, there had been reliability issues with the new Twin Otters but these had been resolved. The Report highlighted that in August 2016, Barra Airport Celebrates its 80th Year and HIAL in partnership with Loganair/Flybe were currently running a “same day return” promotion to fly into/out of Barra with Coffee and Cake at the Airport for £80 and over 100 bookings had been made for the event. In relation to staffing the Report stated that HIAL were in the process of recruiting an additional firefighter to accommodate the additional Glasgow daily rotations and Sunday flights. Mr Graham Everett confirmed that Loganair were also to increase their staffing levels at the Airport. It was agreed to note the update. 315 .