RYANAIR’S decision to axe five Scottish routes over the winter is “deeply regrettable”, the First Minister has said.
Sturgeon said the Scottish Government was writing to Michael O’Leary’s Irish budget carrier to set out its “serious concerns” about the latest announcement.
The airline is cutting an extra 18,000 flights in a move that will hit 400,000 customers, with 34 routes suspended between November and March 2018.
Among them are several popular routes used by travellers from Scotland, including London Stansted to Edinburgh and Glasgow, Edinburgh to Szczecin, Glasgow to Las Palmas and Hamburg to Edinburgh.
The move is part of efforts to end a wave of cancellations that has already seen 2000 flights grounded, after the firm miscalculated pilot leave.
Speaking during First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood, Sturgeon said that the Government backed the Civil Aviation Authority’s action against the airline for “persistently misleading” passengers.
She said: “I have serious concerns about the decisions taken by Ryanair in the last couple of days.
“These will cause disruption to many passengers travelling to and from Scotland to London and indeed to other destinations across Europe.
“The Transport Minister is writing to Ryanair to pass on these concerns.
“We also fully support the Civil Aviation Authority’s launch of enforcement action because it’s vital at time of disruption that airlines provide full and accurate information to passengers about the rights that they have.”
The issue was raised as the First Minister came under fresh pressure from the Greens to ditch a planned cut to Air Departure Tax (ADT).
The party has published a poll showing three out of four Scots would rather spending on everyday public transport was prioritised.
Co-convener Patrick Harvie MSP said the research demonstrated the planned cut was “unwanted, unnecessary and unsupported”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel