The UK’s largest regional UK carrier Loganair was named Airline of the Year for 2023 by the European Regional Airline Association (ERA) this week.
Judges decided to award Loganair for its “impressive performance” in returning to profitability following the Covid pandemic at this weeks general assembly in Austria.
Judges also highlighted the airline’s environmental intiative GreenSkies which it introduced in 2021 to mitigate the impact of flying through carbon offsetting, renewables investment and sustainable aviation research.
Jonathan Hinkles, chief executive of Loganair, said: “It is an incredible honour to be named the ERA Airline of the Year award for 2023 and I’d like to thank our magnificent employees for their extraordinary efforts in recent years.
“We were one of the very few airlines to continue flying daily throughout the pandemic, providing essential travel to remote communities, air ambulance services for Covid patients, and energy industry charter services that ensured the UK’s lights remained switched on.
“It is also very rewarding to be singled out for our environmental innovation. Developing sustainable aviation is vital for the future of our planet and people, as well as the industry.”
Montserrat Barriga, director general, ERA, said: “With an impressive overall performance during 2022, Loganair has overcome the challenges of the previous two years brought on by the pandemic.
“Simultaneously, it has delivered groundbreaking and meaningful environmental initiatives, supported social and humanitarian causes, and set in place key strategic innovations designed to secure its future.
“The airline’s attention to detail, clear thinking and decisive actions have led to measurable positive outcomes. Congratulations to the entire Loganair team on this impressive achievement.”
ERA is a trade association representing the European aviation industry. Its membership includes more than 50 airlines and 150 associate and affiliate members who jointly cover the entire spectrum of the aviation sector – airlines, airports, manufacturers and suppliers.
The annual ERA awards acknowledge the successes and achievements of the regional aviation sector. Its Airline of the Year award, introduced in 1991, has grown to become the industry’s most widely recognised accolade in this sector.
Founded in 1962, Loganair is now the largest regional airline in the UK by passenger numbers and fleet size, operating across almost 100 routes throughout the UK, Ireland and Scandinavia. Loganair previously won ERA’s Airline of the Year award in 2018.