Latest news with #LukeFarajallah
Telegraph
04-03-2025
- Business
- Telegraph
Forget flight-shaming – travelling by plane beats the train, says airline chief
The boss of Britain's biggest regional airline criticised rail travel as a poor alternative to flying even on relatively short journeys within the UK. Luke Farajallah, the chief executive of Loganair, said suggestions that people should be encouraged to take trains instead of planes were misguided, because rail travel was slow and relatively expensive even for trips between major cities. Mr Farajallah spoke after Loganair announced a 35-minute flight from Manchester to Southampton that he predicted would prove a popular alternative to both rail and road. It comes after the Government's official adviser on climate change said last month that 'restricting some domestic flights' might need to be considered as a potential 'lever' towards hitting net zero. The Climate Change Committee indicated that restrictions could be introduced on the 31pc or more of such flights with a rail alternative of under five hours, while noting that domestic flying accounts for just 4pc of Britain's overall aviation emissions. Mr Farajallah said: 'I fundamentally disagree with all of these arguments. People should be encouraged to fly these distances if they want to. There is a demand to fly and it's the most convenient and easiest way to travel. 'People also underestimate how expensive the railway actually is when you really add it all up, including travel to and from the train station.' While Manchester and Southampton are only 181 miles apart as the crow flies, the National Rail website indicates that the fastest direct journey by train takes four hours 14 minutes – almost five times longer than it will take to go by plane. The cheapest single ticket for a Manchester service arriving in Southampton before midday costs £55, £4 less than Loganair plans to charge when its flights start in October. Driving the same route takes four hours seven minutes to cover 225 miles via the M6, M42, M40, A43 and M3, according to the RAC. Loganair already serves Southampton from Edinburgh and Newcastle. Mr Farajallah said arguments against flying ignore the fact that taking the plane is often the only option for those wanting to travel out and back the same day and still get things done. He said: 'People can go from the south coast to Manchester for a day's work comfortably and stress free.' The chief executive said the market for the flights will include holidaymakers boarding cruise ships in Southampton, people doing business in the Northwest, and long-distance travellers flying out of Manchester with airlines including Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines. He said: 'I don't think many people want to spend several hours on a train before they get into an international airport to fly long-haul. I just don't think that's appealing in any sense.' Loganair will also launch flights from Manchester to Exeter, a journey Mr Farajallah said otherwise requires 'a not very pleasant journey by car' or 'complex changes' by rail. The Glasgow-based airline will station two new 70-seat ATR 72 turboprops in Southampton, with the city becoming its 10th aircraft base – alongside six locations in Scotland plus Newcastle, Londonderry and the Isle of Man. Mr Farajallah said the new flights should be profitable despite Labour's planned rise in air passenger duty (APD). The departure tax has double the impact on domestic flights, since it is levied on both outbound and return services. He said: 'We are staunchly against any tax that prevents people from choosing aviation as an option. 'APD is one of those things you have to suck up, but we do so very reluctantly because we believe that we are an enabler of growth.'
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Southampton: Loganair opens base a creates job opportunities
A regional airline says it will create local job opportunities as it announces its 10th regional will create the facility at Southampton Airport, generating new jobs for pilots, cabin crew and airline also plans to launch two new routes as well as increasing capacity for one of its existing executive officer Luke Farajallah said: "We are delighted to be announcing a new base which is a logical and important strategic step for the UK's largest regional airline." From the 26 October new routes from Southampton to Manchester and Manchester to Exeter have been added to the airline's has also increased from 49 to 72 passengers on the Southampton to Edinburgh routes via Manchester to Inverness and Aberdeen will also become Jandu, chief executive of AGS Airports that operates Southampton, said: "Manchester is the most sought-after route by businesses across the region and was previously used by more than 200,000 passengers per year. "The re-introduction of this route will further strengthen the economic ties between the two cities."Mr Farajallah said: "Southampton offers a unique location and we believe the markets, local people and businesses will respond well to our presence in this thriving part of the UK."We are also looking forward to welcoming our new team members who will be recruited from the local areas." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Airline retains patient transfer service contract
Loganair will continue provide the Isle of Man's patient transfer services for non-urgent hospital appointments in the UK for next three years, Manx Care has confirmed. The regional airline already has the current contract for the service, which sees the Manx government arrange air transport to Liverpool for those receiving treatment in the UK. The health care body's chief executive Teresa Cope said the air links offered "vital connectivity" for residents who need treatment that cannot be given on island. Loganair chief executive Luke Farajallah said those travelling for health reasons "expect the very best care from their airline and the team was "determined" to deliver it. The operator took over the service following the collapse of Flybe in 2020, with about 15,000 patient transfer journeys taken each year. The government has contracts with several hospitals, predominantly in the North West of England, which deliver specialist treatment not available on the island, such as transplants, burn care and specialised cancer treatment. The contract, which was awarded after a tender process, involves a minimum daily return service from Monday to Friday, providing flights mainly to and from Liverpool John Lennon Airport. Ms Cope said the flights were important "lifeline flights" for the Manx community allowing "access vital UK services for specialist medical appointments that cannot be delivered locally on-island". Mr Farajallah said the airline was "deeply committed to the Isle of Man, its people, and their wellbeing". It aimed to ensure that "reliable and dependable flight options" were "always available to those who need it most", he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X. Airlines asked to bid for patient transfer service Patient transfer team moves to Noble's site Patient transfer services to be reviewed - Ashford Manx Care Loganair
BBC News
28-02-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Airline retains Isle of Man's patient transfer service contract
Loganair will continue provide the Isle of Man's patient transfer services for non-urgent hospital appointments in the UK for next three years, Manx Care has regional airline already has the current contract for the service, which sees the Manx government arrange air transport to Liverpool for those receiving treatment in the health care body's chief executive Teresa Cope said the air links offered "vital connectivity" for residents who need treatment that cannot be given on chief executive Luke Farajallah said those travelling for health reasons "expect the very best care from their airline and the team was "determined" to deliver it. The operator took over the service following the collapse of Flybe in 2020, with about 15,000 patient transfer journeys taken each government has contracts with several hospitals, predominantly in the North West of England, which deliver specialist treatment not available on the island, such as transplants, burn care and specialised cancer contract, which was awarded after a tender process, involves a minimum daily return service from Monday to Friday, providing flights mainly to and from Liverpool John Lennon Airport. 'Deeply committed' Ms Cope said the flights were important "lifeline flights" for the Manx community allowing "access vital UK services for specialist medical appointments that cannot be delivered locally on-island".Mr Farajallah said the airline was "deeply committed to the Isle of Man, its people, and their wellbeing". It aimed to ensure that "reliable and dependable flight options" were "always available to those who need it most", he added. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
