'I've been stranded in Orkney during snowstorm for days after flights were cancelled'

Passengers in Orkney say they have been left stranded for days during a snowstorm as flights were cancelled with “poor communication” from Loganair.

As heavy snow and ice descended on Scotland this week, many flights out of the island ground to a halt with amber weather warnings in place.

Services from Kirkwall Airport to destinations such as Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh were cancelled over the weekend and earlier this week.

Passengers were asked to keep up to date by contacting operator Loganair and checking the information on its website.

However, Orkney MSP Liam McArthur said many raised the issue of disrupted flight schedules and a lack of communication with the airline to him. The Liberal Democrat politician said he met with Loganair this week.

Hannah Lomas from Edinburgh travelled to Orkney on December 30 and was due to fly home on January 4, but remains on the island as of Thursday after three flights were cancelled.

She says her first flight was cancelled on Sunday with no email communication, before a further flight on Wednesday was cancelled with passengers told the airline was not able to de-ice planes.

Loganair confirmed to McArthur that there had been a fault with de-icing equipment at the airport, but denied this as a reason for cancelling morning and afternoon flights.

Hannah told STV News: “We were waiting at check-in for an hour trying to figure out what to do.

“They said they weren’t going to rebook us because they were closing the airport. There were so many people getting connecting flights, missing flights to New York, people with disabilities and children.

“They said the airport is closing in ten minutes, and you need to get outside. It was a snowstorm.”

She added: “The treatment was just ridiculous and the tone they were delivering this message to us. There was such a lack of empathy and understanding.

“This is my first time coming to Orkney in the winter. We thought they would be better prepared.

“The communication has been so poor. It needs to change.”

Hannah said she paid around £300 for the flight and says her Thursday flight has also been cancelled.

A yellow snow and ice warning remains in place for Orkney and much of the north of Scotland from 8pm on Thursday until noon on Friday.

In a post on Facebook, McArthur said: “The key issue that has come up time and again over recent days is the need to improve communications and the provision of information on what is happening – even where there might be little to say or some uncertainty about what is likely to happen and when.

“This was the focus of my call this afternoon with Loganair, stemming from the understandable frustration of passengers left for many hours in Kirkwall airport today waiting for flights that ended up being cancelled.”

McArthur said that what air travel staff have been contending with “should not be underestimated” and their efforts have been “phenomenal”.

“However, their task is not made easier by the lack of proactive and regular updates from Loganair about what is happening – updates that may allow plans to be altered and reduce scope for misinformation or misunderstandings,” he added.

“My call also allowed me to raise questions about an alleged fault with the de-icing equipment at Kirkwall airport in light of claims this was the cause of cancellations.

“While Loganair confirmed that there had been a fault with the equipment, they insist this was not the reason for cancelling morning and afternoon flights.

“Rather, it was to do with a lack of options of alternative airports that aircraft could divert to if necessary, and limits on carrying fuel.”

The Highlands and Islands Airport Limited, which owns Kirkwall Airport, said on Monday: “Adverse winter weather continues to impact flight schedules across Scotland.

“Please contact your airline for the latest flight information before travelling.”

Loganair declined to comment.