Offshore staff
ABERDEEN, UK – Loganair has flown workers from Latvia and Poland to assist the North Sea emergency response sector.
The Scottish airline is flying personnel from Riga Airport in Latvia and Gdansk Airport in Poland to and from Aberdeen for shifts on two companies’ emergency response and rescue (ERRV) and supply vessels serving North Sea oil and gas platforms.
Both companies turned to Loganair after problems with scheduled services caused by COVID-19 left crews stranded and unable to return home.
Personnel were transported to Aberdeen in Embraer regional jets. The initial contract runs until mid-May.
Fiona MacLeod, Loganair’s director of charter services, said: “The approach from these companies came right out of the blue. They explained the current crews had been forced to work beyond their allotted month-long shift due to the lack of scheduled flights home and it was imperative that their shift changeover be allowed to go ahead.
“We of course wanted to help, but that was easier said than done. As we delved into the logistics of the service required, we had to engage in negotiations with the Ministry of Transport in Latvia and the Prime Minister’s office in Poland before we secured permission to fly to from Riga and Gdansk.
“That has now been done and we have permission to operate charter flights to and from both airports over the next month, with the obvious hope the arrangement will continue beyond that date whether or not the COVID-19 restrictions continue.”
04/17/2020
