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Loganair to Close Dundee Base and End All Flights by October 2026
Loganair will cease all operations at Dundee Airport after 23 October 2026, ending scheduled commercial flights including the Dundee–London Heathrow PSO route and island connections.
The gist
Loganair will shut its Dundee base this October, halting all scheduled flights and leaving the airport without commercial passenger services.
Continuing coverage
All Regional Routes →Loganair has announced it will close its operating base at Dundee Airport by late October 2026, ceasing all scheduled commercial flights from the airport. The closure marks the end of the airline’s Dundee–London Heathrow route, which has run under a Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheme since 2014, supported by local council and government funding. The final Loganair flights from Dundee are scheduled for 23 October 2026.
Beyond the London Heathrow connection, the base closure will also terminate services linking Dundee with the northern isles of Orkney and Shetland. Flights to Kirkwall and Sumburgh airports will end simultaneously, leaving Dundee Airport without any regular commercial passenger flights. The cessation will therefore affect both mainland air links and crucial connections to Scotland’s island communities.
In a statement, Loganair cited an extensive review of the Dundee–London Heathrow route’s long-term financial viability as the reason for the decision, concluding that continued operations are unsustainable. The airline explored alternative options, including potential service shifts to other London airports, but none proved feasible to maintain a viable base at Dundee.
The closure puts approximately sixteen Loganair positions at risk within the Dundee operation. The airline has pledged support for affected employees, aiming to redeploy staff where possible within its wider network. The Dundee airport operator, Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), also anticipates operational impacts, initiating discussions about possible reduced airport opening hours.
The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) responded swiftly to the announcement, confirming engagement with Loganair on behalf of affected pilots and staff. BALPA encouraged members impacted by the Dundee and concurrent Southampton base closures to connect promptly with their company representatives for support and guidance.
Earlier in 2026, Loganair initially planned only to terminate the Dundee–London Heathrow route while maintaining its Dundee base and seeking other London airport options. However, after further assessment over the summer, the airline elected to close the base completely, reflecting broader strategic and financial pressures on regional air operations.
Dundee Airport now faces a period of uncertainty, relying mainly on private and general aviation after the end of scheduled services. Scottish First Minister John Swinney emphasized the government’s commitment to keeping the airport open and preserving vital air links despite funding challenges. He indicated ongoing efforts to identify new support mechanisms for regional connectivity.
Passengers holding bookings beyond 23 October 2026 will be contacted directly by Loganair with information on refunds or alternative travel arrangements. Meanwhile, local stakeholders and funding bodies continue to explore options to reinstate or maintain essential air services for Dundee and the surrounding region, recognizing the airport’s longstanding role in business and community access.
Loganair’s exit from Dundee coincides with similar changes elsewhere, including the closure of its Southampton base, highlighting persistent challenges regional airlines face with rising costs and route sustainability. The final scheduled flights in October will close a significant chapter in Dundee’s commercial aviation history and shift the landscape for regional air travel in Scotland.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is Loganair closing its Dundee base and ending flights?
- Loganair found the Dundee–London Heathrow PSO route financially unsustainable after a review, and could not identify a viable alternative, leading to the closure of the Dundee base and cessation of all routes in October 2026.
- What routes will end when Loganair closes its Dundee base?
- Loganair will end its Dundee routes to London Heathrow, Kirkwall in Orkney, and Sumburgh in Shetland, resulting in no regular commercial passenger flights at Dundee Airport after 23 October 2026.
- What support is provided for staff affected by the Dundee base closure?
- About sixteen Loganair posts linked to Dundee are at risk; Loganair pledged to assist affected employees by helping them find alternative roles within its broader network, and BALPA is engaged in supporting affected pilots and staff.
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All Sustainability →
airBaltic plans major fleet cut to 36 aircraft by end of 2026 amid financial challenges
Latvian flag carrier airBaltic has been in a rough financial spot for some time, and in recent weeks there has been talk of the airline potentially needing to suspend operations due to running out of cash. The airline has now unveiled a new business plan, intended to strengthen its long term sustainability. This is actually a pretty radical transformation, so expect a lot of things at the airline to change… particularly, its network! First let's talk about what's changing, and then we'll talk about how airBaltic got into this situation in the first place. airBaltic unveils updated, long term business plan airBaltic's supervisory board has just approved the carrier's updated business plan, which is intended to strengthen the company's long term competitiveness, establish a sustainable capital structure, support future development, and maintain reliable connectivity for Latvia and the wider region. Here's what will be changing, summarized as succinctly as possible: airBaltic currently has a fleet of 54 Airbus A220-300s, and was planning on growing that fleet to 100 planes ; however, the airline now plans to shrink instead, decreasing its fleet to just 36 planes by the end of 2026, before eventually increasing the fleet to around 40 planes by 2031 The airline plans to largely maintain its scheduled capacity (since the airline does a lot of leasing out of aircraft — more on that below); available seat kilometers are expected to decline from 9.6 billion in 2026 to 8.7 billion in 2027, before gradually increasing to 10.5 billion by 2031 airBaltic will continue to have a network heavily focused on Latvia, but rather than pursuing broad expansion, the airline will focus on deepening its presence in existing markets by increasing frequencies where demand and profitability are strongest airBaltic largely leasing out its aircraft to other airlines under a wet lease model (particularly Lufthansa Group carriers), but the airline plans to increasingly focus on year-round deployment with this strategy, to mitigate the seasonal issue To fund these changes, airBaltic is seeking 225 million EUR in interim financing, intended to bridge the company to a permanent financing solution. The company is also seeking 100 million EUR of new capital. Here's how Erno Hildén, airBaltic's CEO, describes this updated strategy: "Every successful airline must continuously adapt to a changing market. Thus, this business plan is about making disciplined choices that strengthen airBaltic's long-term competitiveness while preserving what matters most – reliable connectivity and operations, together with financial sustainability. It provides a stronger foundation for the company's future and positions us to create long-term value for our customers, partners and Latvia." airBaltic's fleet will shrink to just 36 planes How airBaltic has found itself in such a tough spot airBaltic has historically been an incredibly well run airline. The CEO used to be Martin Gauss, but he was fired (which I found to be an odd decision) , and he's now CEO of Gulf Air . airBaltic operates an all-Airbus A220 fleet, and the airline had huge growth plans, and intended to acquire 100 of these aircraft. For a long time, the idea was as follows: Latvia has convenient geography for connections in Northern Europe, as well as to Russia, etc. Latvia is part of the European Union, but airBaltic has a major cost advantage, given that Latvia is a bit cheaper than some other countries in the EU, so there was merit to the airline wet leasing its aircraft to other airlines However, as you'd expect, the situation has evolved over time. With Russian airspace closed to airlines from the European Union, that has massively limited airBaltic's potential route network, and particularly has limited the number of connecting itineraries the airline can sell. If the current conflict with Russia didn't apply, it would be a totally different story at airBaltic. While airBaltic continues have a robust wet leasing business, the issue is that most airlines looking to lease planes only need them in summer, and not winter, given that it's when demand is highest. In early 2025, Lufthansa Group even bought a small stake in airBaltic , in part because of how much it values the wet lease agreements for subsidiaries like Lufthansa, SWISS, Brussels Airlines, etc. But the issue is that summer-only wet leases need to be able to cover costs not just for summer, but also winter, since it's not like airBaltic has anywhere to profitably fly those excess planes in winter. What has really caused issues for airBaltic in recent times is the increase in fuel costs. Not only have fuel costs increases been particularly bad in Northern Europe, but it's also tough to be a full service(ish) airline that exclusively has a regional network, given how robust ultra low cost carrier competition is in the region. Unfortunately for airBaltic, shrinking probably is the right choice here. That way the airline can focus its network on routes that are actually profitable, and on top of that, can be more selective about wet leasing, to airlines that actually value having planes on a year-round basis. airBaltic will shrink its wet lease operations Bottom line airBaltic has been on the brink of collapse in recent months, and the company's board has approved a new business plan, which will include some major changes. The most significant change is that the carrier's fleet will go from 54 planes to 36 planes by the end of the year. Then by 2031 the fleet will grow to 40 planes, compared to the planned 100 planes. With this downsizing, airBaltic also plans to increasingly focus on its most profitable routes, so expect some network cuts. We'll also see reductions to the carrier's wet leasing operations, as the airline tries to secure year-round deals, rather than just seasonal deals. What do you make of these airBaltic updates?
Massive Colombia earthquake disrupts flights; major airports sustain damage
Social media videos showed damaged ceilings and broken windows at an airport in Pereira. A massive earthquake that hit Colombia on 10 August impacted several major airports in the region, causing flight cancellations. Videos on social media show major damage at Matecana airport in Pereira, near the earthquake's epicentre. Large portions of the airport's ceiling and windows appeared to have broken, leaving debris strewn across the terminal interior. The airport sees about two-dozen flights per day, most of which are cancelled into Tuesday and beyond, FlightRadar24 data show. Operations were also suspended at airports in Manizales, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, Colombia's aviation authority said Monday, pending inspections of facilities and control towers for damage. Some had begun to reopen by Tuesday morning, local time. Seventy-eight flights were cancelled at El Dorado airport in Bogota on Monday, according to FlightAware, and another 312 were delayed. Alfonso Bonilla Aragon airport in Cali reopened late Monday local time after a power outage, authorities say, which resulted in about 40 flights being cancelled. Jose Maria Cordova airport in Medellin says it is operating normally on Tuesday after being evacuated on Monday. Sixteen flights were cancelled into and out of the airport on Monday. In Popayan, south of the most impacted area, flights at Guillermo León Valencia airport were restricted due to emissions from the Purace volcano, adding further complication to the nation's airspace. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck about 200 miles west of the country's capital of Bogota. More than 180 people had been confirmed dead by Colombian authorities in their latest update Tuesday morning local time, as reported by local paper El Tiempo . Avianca says passengers with tickets for flights on Monday could reschedule for up to 15 days with no penalties. "We continue to monitor the evolving situation and traveller demand to adjust our operations and implemented measures according to the country’s connectivity needs," says Avianca.
Air Baltic to scale back A220 fleet to around 40 aircraft in strategic overhaul
Latvian carrier envisages a long-term fleet of around 40 A220-300s as it works on €225m interim recapitalisation. Air Baltic is to cut its fleet to around 40 Airbus A220-300s under a new long-term strategic plan, supported by moves for an initial interim €225 million ($260 million) recapitalisation. The Latvian carrier operates a fleet of 54 A220s but, under the plan announced today, expects this to fall to 36 by the end of the year and to stand at 41 by 2031. Under the carrier's previous business plan, developed in line with an anticipated IPO, Air Baltic envisaged expansion towards a 100-strong aircraft fleet off the back of “sustained growth” in passenger volumes and ticket revenue across the Baltic region and wider European markets. "Since then, the operating environment has changed materially," the carrier says, citing moderated demand and revenue growth, geopolitical events in the Ukraine and the Middle East and the Pratt & Whitney GTF engine issues which have restricted the carrier's ability to deploy its full fleet. "The revised business plan responds to these developments with a deliberate shift in priorities: financial stability first, growth second,” the carrier says. “It aligns Air Baltic's network, fleet, cost base and capital structure with current market conditions." Earlier this year Air Baltic secured consent from the country's parliament for a short-term state loan of €30 million to prop up its liquidity. The carrier’s medium-term strategy had centred on an IPO to raise capital, but market conditions and the company's financial position left the timing and feasibility of such a venture uncertain. Air Baltic chief executive Erno Hilden, who took the helm in December last year, says: "Every successful airline must continuously adapt to a changing market. Thus, this business plan is about making disciplined choices that strengthen Air Baltic's long-term competitiveness while preserving what matters most – reliable connectivity and operations, together with financial sustainability." Air Baltic's revamped business plans will focus on its Riga hub, but rather than "pursuing broad expansion”, will add depth and frequency on existing routes where demand and profitability are strongest. This will be supplemented by selected point-to-point services and seasonal flying to improve fleet utilisation. While the carrier envisages scheduled capacity initially falling, it sees this surpassing current levels by 2031, reflecting what it terms "a more focused network strategy". The carrier aims to strengthen its commercial partnerships with ACMI customers as part of efforts to boost its profitability. Air Baltic is targeting €45 million in recurring annual benefits from the measures, predominantly generated through cost savings. The carrier's plan also includes measures to recapitalise. It aims to address its near-term liquidity requirements through €225 million of interim financing. "The interim financing is intended to bridge the company to a permanent financing solution and remains contingent on the required bondholder resolutions and other approvals," it says. The carrier's proposed permanent financing package comprises up to €225 million of new debt financing and €100 million of new equity capital. Air Baltic expects to post revenues of around €800 million this year, rising to €1 billion by 2031. The plan envisages its EBITDAR to reach €192 million next year and €300 million in 2031.
airBaltic to cut fleet nearly in half as it shifts focus to financial stability
airBaltic has set a new course prioritizing "financial stability first, growth second" in a bid to secure its long-term future and competitiveness. On August 11, 2026, airBaltic confirmed that the Supervisory Working Group had approved its business plan that will see the airline cut its fleet size and seek $259 million (€225 million) of interim financing. The Supervisory Working Group was established by Lativia's Ministry of Finance on December 16, 2025, following airBaltic's financial results, on November 20, 2025. The Lavian flag carrier was required to develop a completely new strategy and business plan to ensure its sustainability without regular state financial involvement. airBaltic cuts fleet to 26 aircraft The new plan includes a more focused network centered around Riga, a reduced all-Airbus A220-300 fleet, stronger year-round ACMI partnerships, and improved operational efficiency. "Rather than pursuing broad expansion, airBaltic will focus on deepening its presence in existing markets by increasing depth and frequency where demand and profitability are strongest," the airline said in a statement. By the end of 2026, airBaltic expects to reduce its fleet of 54 Airbus A220-300s down to 26, with a plan to gradually increase this to around 40 aircraft by 2031. BalkansCat / Shutterstock "Despite the smaller fleet, scheduled capacity is expected to remain broadly stable through improved aircraft utilization," the airline added. "Moreover, enhanced commercial partnerships with ACMI partners will enable more efficient year-round aircraft deployment while reducing seasonal volatility across the business." The previous strategy airBaltic followed was developed in preparation for the planned initial public offering (IPO) with growth central to the plan as well as a larger fleet of 100 aircraft. Why airBaltic needed a new strategy The revised business plan responds to a difficult operating environment where the carrier suffered from developments in Ukraine and the Middle East and Pratt & Whitney engine availability constraints. #image_title "Every successful airline must continuously adapt to a changing market," Erno Hildén, CEO of airBaltic said. "Thus, this business plan is about making disciplined choices that strengthen airBaltic's long-term competitiveness while preserving what matters most – reliable connectivity and operations, together with financial sustainability. It provides a stronger foundation for the company's future and positions us to create long-term value for our customers, partners and Latvia." airBaltic seeks €225 million in interim financing To bridge the company to a permanent solution airBaltic is also seeking $259 million (€225 million) of interim financing and $115 million (€100 million) of new equity capital. "The proposed recapitalization also contemplates partial equitization of the 2029 Senior Secured Notes, with the remaining portion replaced by new, reduced debt of up to EUR 125 million, as well as partial equitization of selected other balance-sheet obligations," airBaltic explained. Essentially, airBaltic is proposing to turn some of its debt into ownership of the company, while reducing the rest of its debt to as much as $144 million (€125 million). Some parts of the proposed recapitalization remain subject to the required approvals. "Under the revised business plan, airBaltic expects revenue to reach approximately EUR 0.8 billion in 2027, increasing to EUR 0.9 billion in 2029 and EUR 1.0 billion by 2031," airBaltic added. Holders of airBaltic's 2029 Senior Secured Notes are encouraged to take part in votes on the proposed recapitalization and new business plan. The first is on August 17, 2026, with further voting rounds expected to follow. RELATED Istanbul Airport leaps past London-Heathrow as Europe's busiest airport
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