A survey of Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce members has found a majority of respondents do not regard the city’s subsidy-supported air service to London Stansted as important.
A total of 53 companies around an eighth of the total DACC membership replied to the poll, which was carried out over three weeks from mid-June, with the vast majority being sole traders or small business with fewer than 49 employees.
Some 60% of respondents to the annual Voice of Business study rated the result of the upcoming independence referendum, the ongoing redevelopment of Dundee Waterfront and a wider network of transport links as the major issues affecting their trading.
Only 40% described the sole scheduled flight from Dundee’s Riverside airport as important to their business, with 52% of respondents saying it was not of note to them.
The service, previously described as “vital” by city development director Mike Galloway, was saved earlier this year when the EU granted the route the same lifeline status enjoyed by remote locations in the Highlands and Islands and permitted the UK Government to issue a public service obligation.
A special UK regional connectivity fund has contributed £2.8 million to support the flights, with Dundee City Council expected to cover the remainder of a £3.2m tender contract on which airline Loganair cannot make a loss.
In all, 27% of respondents who commented on future transport developments mentioned connectivity to London as a priority, with their main hope being a more affordable air service linking Dundee and the UK capital. Some said they would prefer to fly to London City for business, while others called for more frequent and affordable tickets, and a greater number of destinations.
But 35% referred to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen as key links with lower cost, more frequent and direct rail services top of the wish list, alongside better connections between Dundee and Edinburgh Airport.
A rail-to-tram exchange is planned at the new Edinburgh Gateway station, close to Edinburgh Airport, which is expected to be open to passengers by the end of 2016.
Almost two-thirds supported a Scottish Chambers of Commerce campaign to abolish air passenger duty, which hikes the cost of flights to and from Scotland.
Almost a third of respondents said they felt they needed more information about Scotland’s likely EU membership status following the referendum, while more than a fifth were still unclear on currency plans.
The study found 30% of businesses expect the redevelopment of Dundee’s Waterfront to have no impact on their firms, despite the influx of hundreds of thousands of visitors anticipated by city fathers.
Four-in-10 said they were suffering from skills shortages, but only 23% said they were concerned about changes to the school exam system.
Perhaps surprisingly, 57% of respondents said paying staff an enhanced ‘living’ wage of £7.65 per hour would not affect their operations.
Companies were more optimistic about their activity, turnover and profit levels but more guarded when it came to prospects for further employment.