Scottish regional airline Loganair has won the European Regions Airline Association (ERA) gold award for airline of the year, with Spanish carrier Binter winning the silver award and Titan Airways the bronze.
Loganair was commended by judges for rebuilding its commercial infrastructure since its franchise agreement with Flybe ended last year, and for serving its community in remote areas of Scotland in often tough and challenging conditions. The airline’s managing director, Jonathan Hinkles, received the award at the ERA’s annual assembly in Edinburgh.
He commented: “Receiving an award of this calibre is a tremendous privilege, highlighting everything Loganair has achieved since flying solo last year. Everyone in the team has worked incredibly hard to build a regional airline providing sustainable and reliable services for the communities to which we fly. The foundations that we’ve laid over the last year will serve Loganair well for decades to come, and we’re very much looking forward to playing a leading role in the future of the UK’s regional air services.”
Binter, based in the Canary Islands, will be celebrating its 30th anniversary in five months’ time. Its president, Pedro Agustín del Castillo Machado, described 2017 as “a very intense year for the transport sector in the Canary islands,” and that Binter had remained market leader in flight connections. It also took huge strides forward in growth areas such as the design and production of aeronautical parts, reporting a cost-effective close to the financial year, he added.
Alastair Willson, managing director of bronze award winner Titan Airways, commented: “We are delighted to receive this accolade in what is our 30th year of operations. I happily accept the award on behalf of Titan’s employees. Every one of them rose to the challenge last summer when we were asked to assist the CAA with the largest ever peacetime repatriation following the sad loss of Monarch Airlines.
“In the past 12 months we have also added three aircraft to our fleet and turnover for the financial year has exceeded £100 million – for the first time in our history.”
