MSP QUESTIONS BMI CANCELLATION OF GLASGOW-HEATHROW SERVICE

Commenting on the announcement that BMI is to suspend daily flights between Glasgow and Heathrow from the end of March with 138 staff at Glasgow Airport at risk of redundancy, SNP MSP for the Westof Scotland, Stuart McMillan - a member of the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee - suggested that the issue of landing charges be a matter of inquiry by the committee.

BMI has said that the forthcoming rises in domestic passenger charges by BAA at Heathrow had made the loss-making route "unsustainable" and claimed that there was unfair discrimination against domestic and short-haul operators in favour of long-haul carriers. However BAA have denied that is the case and say the route was "loss-making".

Commenting Mr McMillan said:

"This is a very worrying situation and the loss of this route can only be bad for jobs and business in Scotland and the west of Scotland in particular. The threat of redundancies is particularly worrying and I will be contacting Jim Mather and the Scottish Government to ensure this matter is raised with the UK Government as a priority.

"The issue of landing charges at Heathrow is one that invariably raises its head again and again and the reduction of flights to Heathrow from Glasgow to only one operator can only raise concerns about future costs.

"I feel this issue is one that should be looked at and the Scottish Parliament's Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee may be the forum that can look into this issue."