Our History

Loganair’s story of connecting communities took flight in October 1963 with its first scheduled service between Dundee and Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh. This route was designed to meet the needs of contractors working on the iconic Tay Road Bridge, providing a vital link for project personnel. Additionally, an on-demand service was established for business travelers between Dundee and Edinburgh, marking the beginning of Loganair’s commitment to supporting local industries and regional business connectivity.

This inaugural route set the foundation for Loganair's dedication to serving Scotland’s people and economy—an ethos that has fueled our growth and enduring legacy.

In 1964, Loganair expanded its services with a unique contract to deliver newspapers to Stornoway. The commitment didn’t stop with just transportation; the Piper Aztec pilot would personally assist in unloading the newspapers and reloading the aircraft with locally crafted goods, predominantly Harris Tweed, for the return journey. This service highlighted Loganair's early dedication to supporting Scotland's communities and industries, linking remote areas with essential goods and services, and promoting local craftsmanship.

This contract marked another milestone in our journey, strengthening Loganair’s role as a vital lifeline for Scotland's islands and rural communities.

In 1967, Loganair took a significant step forward by launching the Orkney Inter-Isles service, connecting the mainland at Kirkwall with the smaller Orkney islands. This network opened up vital links for residents, businesses, and visitors, reinforcing Loganair’s role as an essential provider of island connectivity.

That same year, Loganair was awarded a supplementary air ambulance contract, beginning a new chapter of community-focused service. While the Piper Aztec performed the first ambulance flight, the Britten Norman Islander quickly became the backbone of the ambulance fleet. This versatile aircraft, renowned for its reliability, still serves today as part of Loganair’s proud legacy in Orkney’s Inter-Isles service.

These new routes and services solidified Loganair’s dedication to serving Scotland’s island communities, providing them with essential transport and medical services that have only grown in importance over time.

In October 1968, Loganair entered a new era when the National Commercial Bank of Scotland acquired a capital share in the airline. This partnership brought with it a novel service for the island communities, particularly on the Isle of Lewis, where Loganair supported the beginning of operations for mobile banking services. These mobile banks traveled to remote areas, providing crucial access to financial services for islanders who otherwise faced challenges reaching mainland branches.

In 1976, a new chapter in Loganair's operations on Fair Isle began with the construction of a modern airstrip, replacing a former World War II landing strip. This improved airstrip allowed for safer and more reliable air services to the remote island, further strengthening its connections to the Shetland mainland.

As part of this new service, Loganair made a memorable delivery—transporting Shetland ponies to Fair Isle for the first time in 80 years. This unique mission underscored Loganair’s role in supporting the islands’ communities and heritage, even restoring an iconic symbol of Shetland’s culture to Fair Isle.

In 1980, Loganair expanded its fleet with the addition of two Embraer 110 aircraft, marking a significant step forward in the airline’s growth. These aircraft offered increased speed, greater range, and enhanced passenger comfort, which were key factors in meeting the evolving demands of the airline’s expanding network.

The introduction of the Embraer 110s allowed Loganair to provide essential air services to the offshore oil industry, supporting oil companies operating in the North Sea. This new capability helped establish Loganair as a reliable partner for both passenger and cargo transportation to remote offshore locations, solidifying its role in the region's industrial growth.

In December 1983, Loganair was acquired by British Midland Airways, a significant milestone in the airline's history. This partnership enabled Loganair to expand its network and enhance its regional connectivity. Following the acquisition, Loganair’s route map grew to cover not only Scotland but also extended into England and Northern Ireland, allowing the airline to offer more extensive services across the UK.

The acquisition provided Loganair with greater resources and support, helping the airline strengthen its position in the domestic market and further enhance its service offerings to both business and leisure travelers. This expansion marked the beginning of a new chapter for Loganair, allowing it to become an even more integral part of the UK’s regional air travel landscape.

In 1994, Loganair entered into a franchise partnership with British Airways, further solidifying its role in the UK’s regional air travel network. Under the agreement, Loganair began operating flights on behalf of British Airways on several key routes, significantly expanding its service offerings and reach.

These routes included Loganair’s Highland routes and British Airways’ popular connections, such as:

• Glasgow to Aberdeen
• Glasgow to Sumburgh via Inverness and Kirkwall
• Glasgow to Belfast

This partnership helped Loganair tap into a broader customer base while maintaining its strong regional focus. It also enabled British Airways to enhance its presence in Scotland and the North of England, with Loganair providing essential connections in the Highlands and Islands.

In 1997, Loganair underwent a significant change with a management buyout led by Chairman Scott Grier. This move gave the company greater autonomy and allowed it to further expand and develop its regional services.

During this period, Loganair continued to strengthen its connections across Scotland with key fleet developments:

• Five Britten-Norman Islanders were used to operate the vital Shetland and Orkney Inter-Isle services, ensuring reliable transport between these remote islands.
• The De Havilland Twin Otter was introduced on routes from Glasgow to Tiree, Barra, and Campbeltown, enhancing the airline's ability to serve Scotland's more challenging and remote airports.

This era marked a significant phase in Loganair's evolution, consolidating its position as a regional airline with deep roots in Scotland and a focus on connecting even the most isolated communities.

By 2004, Loganair had significantly expanded its network, having acquired all the Scottish routes previously operated by British Airways CitiExpress. This acquisition marked a major milestone in the airline's growth and solidified its presence as the key regional carrier in Scotland.

With the new routes, Loganair was now operating services connecting some of the most remote communities in Scotland, including:

• Glasgow to Stornoway
• Glasgow to Benbecula
• Aberdeen to Sumburgh
• Aberdeen to Kirkwall

These additions helped Loganair become even more integral to the Scottish travel landscape, ensuring essential connections between the mainland and the Northern Isles, as well as the Western Isles. This period also highlighted the airline's commitment to providing vital regional services with a focus on reliability and convenience for both business and leisure travellers.

In 2008, Loganair's long-standing franchise agreement with British Airways came to an end, marking a significant shift in the airline’s strategic direction. Taking this opportunity, Loganair entered into a new franchise agreement with Flybe, a leading regional carrier in the UK at the time. This new partnership allowed Loganair to expand its reach and services, benefiting from Flybe's established network across Europe.

Despite the end of the franchise agreement with British Airways, the strong relationship between the two airlines continued through a codeshare arrangement. This arrangement allowed Loganair's flights to be marketed as connecting flights with BA services to London and beyond, maintaining seamless connectivity for passengers flying from Scotland to various international destinations.

The transition to Flybe, combined with the continued codeshare with British Airways, marked a new chapter in Loganair’s evolution, offering greater flexibility and access to a broader range of destinations for its customers.

In July 2011, Loganair expanded its fleet and operational capabilities through the acquisition of Suckling Airways, a Cambridge-based airline. This strategic move brought Dornier 328 aircraft into the Loganair fleet.

The Dornier 328 aircraft provided Loganair with a significant operational and commercial advantage, as these aircraft offered superior speed and range compared to the Saab aircraft in the fleet at the time. This allowed Loganair to serve a wider range of routes with improved efficiency, especially on routes that required longer range or quicker turnarounds.

The acquisition not only expanded Loganair's fleet but also strengthened its ability to serve both regional and intercontinental destinations, further cementing its position as a key player in the UK’s regional aviation market.

In September 2017, Loganair reclaimed its independence as it ended its franchise agreement with Flybe and began flying under its own name for the first time in 25 years. This marked a significant milestone in the airline's history, as Loganair resumed its original branding after years of operating as a franchise partner with other airlines.

The shift to flying solo required a comprehensive re-branding effort, including a new website, reservations system, and updated brand identity. The new logo and visual style were inspired by the Scottish tartan pattern that had been associated with Loganair during its time under British Airways’ wing in the 1990s. In fact, the Loganair Tartan was officially registered as Tartan number 11744 in the Scottish Register of Tartans, further solidifying the airline’s strong Scottish heritage.

This marked a new chapter for Loganair, empowering it to strengthen its reputation as the UK’s largest regional airline, while also reaffirming its deep ties to the communities it serves across Scotland and beyond.

In 2019, Loganair saw significant growth, expanding its route network to include over 70 routes across the UK and Europe. The airline now served destinations in Scotland, England, the Channel Islands, Belgium, Isle of Man, Norway, Ireland, Denmark, and Germany, further solidifying its position as a key regional airline.

To enhance connectivity for passengers, Loganair forged new interline agreements with some of the world’s leading airlines, enabling seamless travel options and expanding global reach for its customers.

To improve the travel experience, Loganair also introduced Embraer jets into its fleet. These aircraft offered enhanced comfort and helped open up new destinations, improving overall passenger satisfaction.

In recognition of its outstanding service and commitment to the Scottish travel industry, Loganair was voted SPAA Domestic Airline of the Year in 2019 by the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA), a prestigious award that highlighted the airline’s growing importance in the domestic market.

In 2020, Loganair capitalized on the collapse of Flybe in March, seizing the opportunity to expand its route network by taking over several of Flybe’s former routes. This move allowed Loganair to begin operating new destinations such as Newquay, Southampton, Birmingham, Exeter, and Belfast City.

As a result, Loganair became the largest operator of domestic routes in the UK and the largest operator at Aberdeen Airport, further solidifying its position in the domestic aviation market.

In addition to expanding its network, Loganair initiated a fleet renewal program, replacing its Dornier 328s with the more fuel-efficient ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft. These aircraft offered greater capacity, enhancing the service on many of Loganair’s core routes, ensuring the airline could meet growing demand while maintaining its reputation for reliability and comfort.

In 2022, Loganair marked a monumental milestone—60 years of service to Scotland and beyond. Since its inception in 1962, Loganair has remained a proud symbol of Scottish aviation, evolving from a small air taxi service to become the UK's largest regional airline.

The year was filled with reflections on the airline's rich heritage and its remarkable journey, from its first scheduled flight between Dundee and Edinburgh to its present-day operations spanning across the UK and Europe.

As we celebrated this historic anniversary, Loganair looked back on its long-standing commitment to the people and communities it serves, connecting remote Scottish islands and regional hubs across the UK with the world. We continued to invest in our fleet, introducing new, more fuel-efficient aircraft and expanding our network to enhance regional connectivity.

The anniversary year also saw Loganair reaffirm its dedication to sustainability, with ongoing efforts towards carbon-neutral operations and a commitment to reducing its environmental footprint.

Loganair’s 60th anniversary was not only a celebration of past achievements but also a look ahead to the next chapter of growth and innovation. From expanding new routes to improving customer experience, 2022 set the stage for an exciting future.

Building on the momentum of its 60th anniversary in 2022, 2023 has been another milestone year for Loganair. The airline achieved a historic step by bringing UK regional air connectivity to new heights with the launch of direct flights to London Heathrow, one of Britain’s most prestigious airports, from Shetland, Orkney, City of Derry, and Dundee.

These new routes not only enhanced domestic connectivity but also underscored Loganair’s commitment to connecting the regions with major international hubs.

Additionally, Loganair continued to expand its global reach through its ever-growing network of airline partners, including Aer Lingus and Icelandair, further enhancing regional connectivity and offering customers seamless travel options to destinations worldwide.