Loganair’s Heathrow arrival heralds milestone for Shetland tourism
Shetland’s air connections celebrated a historic milestone today (Thursday, 11 May) as Loganair’s new Heathrow to Sumburgh route touched down for the first time.
The landmark journey heralded the start of Loganair’s new route from the UK capital’s bustling aviation hub to the UK’s most northerly airport and was celebrated at a special event hosted by Loganair and Promote Shetland.
The new twice-weekly service is primed to support game-changing opportunities for inward investment, tourism and onward travel to the Islands, with the change from London City to Heathrow meaning Shetland customers can book connections to and from Sumburgh via London Heathrow to 97 destinations in 45 countries.
First announced in April, Loganair – the UK’s largest regional airline - is now offering connections to London Heathrow from Derry, Dundee, Orkney and Shetland in addition to its existing Isle of Man services.
Derry flights switched from London Stansted on Saturday, 6 May, while flights to Dundee left from Heathrow (previously London City) for the first time in 40 years on Tuesday.
The changes have now brought the first-ever link between Shetland and Heathrow.
Loganair Chief Commercial Officer, Luke Lovegrove, said:
“Shetland is now plugged in to Heathrow’s connections with the rest of the world thanks to these new routes, offering incredible opportunities for travel, tourism and inward investment into the island.
These routes really take Loganair’s provision of regional connectivity to new heights, and it was wonderful to celebrate the moment at Sumburgh today.”
David Nicol, Managing Director with Promote Shetland, said:
“It’s great news for Shetland’s visitor economy and business community that regular flights connect the islands to London and the rest of the world via Heathrow.
Not only is Shetland perfect for a getaway in a spectacular and dramatic location, but we are also a hub of innovation and enterprise with huge potential for growth. Having such a convenient link to London is fantastic for Shetland’s thriving business community.
Shetland’s amazing scenery, wildlife and friendly welcome are a short flight away from London, and we hope many people are enticed to find their own true north and visit the islands for leisure or business. We look forward to welcoming you.”
Liz Henderson, Director of Membership and Events at London Chamber of Commerce, said:
“Sustainable aviation is vital for British business to grow jobs and the economy across the United Kingdom and overseas. Loganair’s new Heathrow routes achieve that by boosting connectivity across key regions in the UK, ranging from traditional business and tourism centres to some of the country’s most remote destinations.”
Lorna Jack, Chair of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) Board, said:
“I’m happy to have been able to see the first of the Loganair flights connecting London Heathrow to Sumburgh via Dundee first-hand today. This is a positive step in terms of air travel to and from Sumburgh and opens a world of onward connectivity opportunities from Heathrow for the Shetland community.
We are delighted to support the service and expect the new links will deliver significant benefits for the islands.”
