Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart, meanwhile, has attacked the Scottish Government after it emerged that ministers have not discussed an islands impact assessment on the plans
Air traffic controllers vote to continue industrial action in protest against HIAL project
The motion requests a meeting be convened between Shetland Islands Council, HIAL and government ministers
HIAL accuses the union of putting existing routes under unsustainable pressure at a time the country emerges from lockdown
Wishart launches second petition against controversial HIAL plans
Wishart calls for the project to be stopped as survey identifies huge opposition
Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart says the amount spent on the project so far is ‘disheartening’
Caithness MSP Gail Ross calls for the project to be scrapped
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The ballot comes amid frustration over HIAL plans to centralise air traffic control in Inverness
HIAL has suggested using ‘external facilitator to help resolve matters’
Claims to the Scottish Government’s discount scheme are down by over £4 million this year as fewer islanders fly
Union and politicians respond to opinion piece by former HIAL employee published by Shetland News
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A ‘perceived’ recruitment crisis for air traffic controllers at island airports is being used by airport operator HIAL to further its ATC centralisation plans, writes Peter Henderson who has been working at Kirkwall airport’s control tower for 18 years
Scottish Government says it is ‘satisfied that HIAL has taken their decision based on the best available information and an in-depth analysis of the different options’
HIAL says the proposals are the ‘only option that offers long-term solutions in terms of resilience and flexibility, both during normal and out-of-hours operations’
Thirteen full-time equivalent jobs at Sumburgh could be set to relocate to Inverness
HIAL says island impact assessment is currently underway
Over £100,000 has been generated since the introduction of the £3-a-day charge
With communities in the north concerned over plans to ‘centralise’ air traffic control services in Inverness, Shetland News asked Swedish journalist Kent Lidman to find out how the remote tower technology is working at Örnsköldsviks airport where it was introduced in 2015.
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