Loganair has confirmed it will withdraw entirely from Dundee Airport, ending all its operations there after a subsidised route to London Heathrow was deemed unable to continue. The airline said the public service obligation (PSO) contract, backed by the local authority and the Scottish and UK governments, had become financially unsustainable, and it will help affected Dundee-based staff look for other roles.
The withdrawal will also disrupt onward air links to Orkney and Shetland, which have relied on Loganair's Dundee base. Currently, the Dundee to Heathrow service operates twice daily on weekdays and once on Sundays.
What has changed since the route was first announced?
Loganair initially said in an earlier announcement that the Heathrow service would stop on 28 September, while insisting it remained committed to Dundee and was exploring alternative London airport options. That timeline has since shifted: the airline has now told Dundee City Council and other PSO partners that flights will actually cease on 18 September 2026, according to a national broadcaster's report. Flights are expected to continue running as scheduled up until that date.
Why is the route being cut?
Loganair's chief commercial officer pointed to rising maintenance costs and difficulty sourcing aircraft parts as key reasons behind the decision to pull out, according to a report from Shetland News. The airline said the contract was "financially unsustainable".
"financially unsustainable"
How long has this route existed?
The PSO arrangement supporting the Dundee to London link has been in place since 2014, ensuring the route stayed viable despite limited passenger demand. A more recent iteration of the service moved to Heathrow Terminal 2 from 6 May 2023, after receiving UK government approval, replacing the airport's previous London connection, per Loganair's own announcement at the time. A Dundee City Council report has also warned that removing the subsidy would mean the end of all scheduled air services at Dundee Airport, according to a council report.
What happens next?
Loganair has said the Dundee to Heathrow service will keep operating as normal until 18 September 2026, giving passengers and staff a short transition period before the route closes for good. The airline is also still reviewing whether it could resume a Dundee link to another London airport later in 2026, according to the Shetland News report, though no firm decision has been confirmed.
Key Facts
- Loganair is withdrawing all operations from Dundee Airport.
- The Dundee to Heathrow PSO route, running since 2014, will end on 18 September 2026.
- The closure will also affect connecting air travel to Orkney and Shetland.
- Rising maintenance costs and aircraft parts shortages were cited as contributing factors.
- Loganair says it is still assessing alternative London airport options for later in 2026.
