The chief executive of an airline serving the north and many island communities has stepped down, prompting a worldwide search for a replacement.
Stewart Adams joined Loganair in January 2013 but confirmed yesterday he was leaving his job due to “personal reasons”.
The airline’s chairman David Harrison paid tribute to the “extremely hardworking” outgoing chief executive.
However, the airline has been criticised recently after a number of technical problems resulting in delays – with one northern isles MSP saying Mr Adams’s successor faces “the biggest challenge in Loganair’s history”.
Mr Adams, who joined Loganair from Singapore-based Tiger Airways, will remain in post until April by which time a replacement is expected to have been selected.
He said: “It has been a great privilege to lead such an important organisation and its fantastic staff for the past three years.
“The widespread improvement initiatives we launched last year are already having a positive impact and our strong financial performance in recent years has also made possible the largest investment programme in the company’s history.
“For personal reasons the time is now right for me to step down and I am confident that the strong foundations which have been laid will help enable the new chief executive to continue the company’s expansion and growth.”
Loganair have undertaking a thorough review of its services after a number of concerns, including from the pilots union Balpa which raised concern about technical defects.
It has come in for heated political criticism from the northern and western isles over concerns about service.
Yesterday, Shetland MSP Tavish Scott said: “The new chief executive of Loganair will have to address the enormous reliability problems we have seen recently.
“It is the biggest challenge in Loganair’s history. This is ur lifeline air service and we all expect better.”
Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael said: “I hope that Loganair are successful in finding a suitably qualified chief executive as soon as possible.
“This is not a good time for the company to lack leadership at the top. I wish Mr Adams well in his future career.”
Loganair chairman David Harrison said: “Stewart has been an extremely hardworking chief executive and he has provided strong leadership since he joined us three years ago.
“He informed the board of his decision late last year and is scheduled to leave in April. We would like to thank him for his efforts during what has been a challenging period.”