Flying to Scotland’s islands now costs more than a trip to Tenerife – and prices are set to rise again. With fares topping £600 and a fuel surcharge still in place despite falling oil prices, calls are growing for Holyrood to step in says Brian Wilson

If I had taken a sudden fancy yesterday to leave the country for a few days – not impossible - the options at Glasgow Airport were attractive. Return flights to Tenerife for £88. Krakow, even for Christmas, came in at under £300. Or something closer to home – return flights to Dublin between £90 and £155, depending on whether Ryanair or Aer Lingus is your preference.

On the other hand, if I was a bereaved relative of modest means trying to get to Benbecula in a hurry, on the same dates, the fare would have been £551. Or maybe an urgent business mission to or from Stornoway, where at least there is a daily choice of flights? Minimum £505 rising to well over £600. As for Sumburgh, start at £595 and work your way upwards.

There are two caveats. First, everyone understands that the economics of flying relatively small planes to islands are significantly different to mass aviation and always have been. Second, if you live in the islands, can plan well in advance and benefit from an Air Discount Scheme for residents, it is possible to get decent Loganair fares.

Even these, however, are now likely to hover around the £300 return mark at shorter notice. A friend in Lewis told me the other day it cost him more for a family of four to fly to and from Glasgow than the entire cost of a week in Majorca. Once the festive........

© Herald Scotland