Loganair celebrates 60 years serving Scotland from the skies

For sixty years, Loganair has been providing a vital service for communities across Scotland.

Connecting the mainland to the islands, the airline has carried everything from passengers to medicines, post to newspapers and even Shetland ponies.

On Tuesday, the airline celebrated its milestone birthday at Dundee airport with a special celebration as the 10.50am London service touched down.

Kay Ryan from Loganair said: “I think it’s absolutely fantastic and I hope all our customers do too.

“Sixty years, the longest operating airline under the same name.

“We think it’s a fantastic achievement and we’re very proud.”

After six decades of serving Scotland from the sky, Loganair employees past and present looked back on their time with the airline.

Loganair celebrated its 60th birthday with a celebration at Dundee airport. STV News

For 85-year-old pilot and former Loganair employee Geoff Rosenbloom, Loganair provided many fond memories.

“I came straight off fighters in the Air Force and joined Loganair, my first job and the flying was wonderful,” he said.

“Around the Highlands and Islands, low level, single pilot, really good.”

As the mid 60s approached, the airline won the contract to deliver newspapers to Stornoway and started the Orkney Inter Isles service.

In 1976, the airline had a rather unusual delivery after flying Shetland ponies to Fair Isle in a bid to reintroduce the species following an 80-year absence.

These days the company tends to carry more traditional passengers, which 23-year-old Loganair pilot Aaran Dickson is passionate about.

He said: “The flying we do is so varied. One day you could be flying NHS patients from Sumburgh to Aberdeen and the next day you’re taking business people from Dundee down to London City, and there’s no two days the same.

“The sunsets, the sunrises. If you’re flying at night, the stars that you see out there that you can’t see on the ground, there’s nothing like it.”