Scottish airline Loganair has added two key appointments to its leadership team as it prepares to operate flights in its own right, after 24 years of working under franchise agreements with other operators. 

The new members of the senior staff are finance director David Dishon and commercial director Kay Ryan, both of whom bring substantial transport industry experience to the Glasgow-based company.

Dishon has a strong pedigree from his previous post as finance and commercial director of Caledonian Sleeper, and prior to that, route finance controller in Scotland for Network Rail.

He takes up corporate board responsibility with Loganair, joining managing director Jonathan Hinkles, chairman David Harrison and Peter Simpson, chief executive of parent company AIL Group.

He said: “This is both a challenge and a fantastic opportunity at what is an important time for the airline. Loganair has flown as a franchise carrier for larger airlines over the last two decades, but there is a still a huge level of recognition and affinity for the brand throughout Scotland and beyond.”

Ryan is steeped in the airline and travel sectors, being previously commercial director of Eastern Airways, and prior to that holding senior positions at Thomas Cook Group.

She said: “I’m very excited to be joining such a great organisation at such an important time in its history.Loganair is an iconic name in the airline industry.”

Managing director Hinkles said “All of us are very much looking forward to providing the highest standards of safety, punctuality and customer service synonymous with the Loganair name in this new era, and there are many tasks to be carried out to a tight deadline to make that happen.  It’s important to get the right team in place, and David and Kay have been carefully chosen to play key roles in taking the transition forward.”

Scotland’s Airline has operated its services under franchise agreements with British Airways, from 1993 to 2007, and latterly with Flybe from 2007.  The current franchise arrangement with Flybe will conclude on 31 August 2017, although the two parties are continuing to discuss opportunities to work together in future.

Loganair will operate flights in its own right from 1 September 2017, introducing a new, definitively Scottish identity to the skies. It has already unveiled its new livery of a tartan consisting of the airline’s traditional red, white and black colours.