Flybe provides relief to Scottish langoustine industry

It’s usually a case of ‘red’ faces all round when Flybe, Europe’s largest and most successful regional airline, caters to literally hundreds of thousands of travellers each week using its daily services from Inverness to London Gatwick.

After a successful trial, the official start of a new cargo service, operated on behalf of British Airways, sees the carriage of some 50,000 Nephrops Norvegicus every week. The business partners have designed the service to meet and support the specific needs of the Highlands and Islands’ fishing industry.

The 2,000 kilos per week of naturally orange-coloured langoustine are destined for Barcelona. The trial service that started in August was the first uplift from the airport in over a year, bringing a much-needed sigh of relief to the regional perishable industry market that had, until then, been struggling for almost 12 months to meet the speedy transit needs of the luscious live cargo.

The local fishing industry had been hit hard and was struggling to transport its perishable products since direct services to the capital had been withdrawn by a previous carrier. The only way around the situation was for them to drive hundreds of miles either to Aberdeen or Edinburgh with the precious cargo whose value is greatly decreased if it arrives deceased.

The introduction into Inverness of Flybe’s new state-of-the-art, fuel efficient Embraer 195 jet aircraft at the start of the 2008 Summer season once again made it possible for the industry to send fresh product safely on its way, ensuring that it arrives alive and well, attracting maximum revenue for the region’s industry.

Stephen Hobday, Flybe’s Head of Sales, says: “The cargo service we offer from Inverness is growing in leaps and bounds. The ability of the E195 to transport such loads is certainly paying dividends, not only for Flybe but, importantly, in supporting local industry whose very survival and profitability depends upon a fast, efficient and reliable service to a wide range of destinations, including London Gatwick.

“From here, cargo can be despatched all over the world. In this particular venture, we are pleased to be working with British Airways World Cargo (BAWC) who complete the deliveries to Barcelona.”

Inverness-based freight-forwarder, David Hourston of Dalcross Logistics, says that the service has been very warmly received by the company’s two main shippers of live langoustine, adding:

“As the appointed cargo handling agent for both Flybe and BAWC at Inverness, we have been heavily involved with setting up the interline arrangement that has made this renewed service possible. Not only does Flybe’s service allow the langoustine to remain longer in the water and be packed later, ensuring they arrive at market in the best possible condition, it also reduces our carbon footprint by allowing us to take vehicles off the notorious A9 and A96 roads.”

Flybe is the fastest growing airline in Scotland and, as a key contributor to the regional economy, is serving Scotland with a greater capacity than ever before. The airline’s 2008/9 Winter schedule from Inverness sees it continuing to demonstrate a commitment to Scottish passengers with a total of 36 direct flights per week from the base that, coupled with the launch of ‘Flybe Connections’, opens up a vast selection of affordable routes for Flybe passengers.

The winter schedule, effective 26th October, offers passengers an extensive and comprehensive range of popular winter services to destinations across the UK. All are available for booking now and throughout the winter at flybe.com.