Loganair’s Hinkles departs with immediate effect
Kevin Craigens
Loganair’s chief executive Jonathan Hinkles announced he was stepping down from his role with immediate effect.
After more than seven years in the role, he said he was “eternally proud” of the company and what it had achieved under his stewardship.
The move comes as the airline completed the retirement of its long-serving Saab 340 aircraft and the retirement of well-known pilot Eddie Watt.
In a statement to airline staff, Mr Hinkles asked for “trust and confidence” that it was right to “get off the stage straight away”.
He added: “It will serve neither you as my trusted colleagues, me, nor Loganair for there to be a prolonged period of farewell, uncertainty and indecision in leadership.
“With that said, by the time you read these words, I’ll have left the building for the final time.”
In order to provide continued leadership and oversight of the airline’s operations, executive chairman Peter Simpson will temporarily assume the role of acting chief executive.
Chief operations officer Maurice Boyle will move from deputy accountable manager to become the airline’s accountable manager for safety, security and regulatory compliance matters.
Andrew Holt
Leadership is a tough call, especially in these times. In the highly competitive world of the airline industry, running a small operation like Loganair, with small economic margins and with an aging fleet subject to the obvious engineering related stresses can be a nightmare. And that’s before factoring in our Shetland weather!
In my admittedly limited experience, arrival at Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness and Aberdeen airports, nearly always entails a prolonged wait for disembarkation followed by a long walk from the far flung stance to the arrivals hall and luggage carousel. There have been some frustrating times over the years, last minute cancelled flights and poor to shocking ground crew service. But I’d just like to say thankyou to Loganair, Jonathan Hinkles and Captain Eddy for your service to these islands.