Sir, I am sure that anyone who has set foot in an aircraft can quote instances of fares which make the Dundee to London City fare look “extortionate”.
What people need to ensure is that they are comparing like with like. You cannot compare an Emirates flight from Glasgow to Bangkok with the Dundee situation.
Emirates operates an ultra-modern fleet of the latest high-volume aircraft with hundreds of seats between major destinations.
CityJet on the other hand have a fleet of Avro RJ85 and Fokker50 aircraft and even those are too big to be operated efficiently from Dundee. For the purpose of the London City to Dundee sector they have chartered a Dornier 328 from Suckling Airways. It only has 31 seats.
The Transport Scotland report which was published in early December correctly identified the major cost problem as the massive expense of operating in and out of London City. With load factors, even on the smaller aircraft, bobbing around 50% any airline would be struggling to absorb fees of more than £100 per passenger per flight just to use this airport.
Maybe when it started in 1999 there was a demand in the business sector for this route to be operated but now as we enter the fifth year of difficult trading other “London” destinations should be considered. Stansted and Luton come to mind immediately and what about Southend? They must be looking for routes in and out, and a new railway station has been built right outside the terminal with fast connections to Liverpool Street.
Prestige always comes at a cost, particularly in the South East of England.
David Dawson. Burnhead Road, Blairgowrie.
Delighted and stunned to receive award
Sir, I am both delighted and stunned to be awarded an MBE in this year’s New Year’s Honours list. Imagine a wee man from Methil going to the palace!
The award is for services to charity after raising well over one million pounds for local and national charities over the last 18 years or so.
I feel that I must take this opportunity to mention and thank people who, I discovered, had nominated me for the honour and those who have supported me throughout with the drive to “make a difference for others”. It would not have been possible without them.
My nomination for the MBE was instigated by Alex and Catharine Peachy from my local Kinnears Inn, Scone, Anne Marie Russell who has trekked the Gobi desert with me, the great lassies from Joan’s (Walker) hair salon. Big Stevie for accompanying me through the Sahara desert and with many more locally and nationally (as far of as Kabul – Afghanistan) digging deep to sponsor me. Forever grateful to you all.
Particular mention must go to my wife, Christine my family members who have had to put up with my “I want” and “I need” over the many years, my twin sister Janet and her man for running charity car boot stalls for me, my brother and his partner for just being there.
My son Stuart and his wife Moira for telling me to keep going when at times I said: “I’m too tired to go on.”
Finally, and most special of all, I want to give my deepest, heartfelt thanks to Mike Scott and the late Peter Cruickshanks who put up with me over the many years when we pulled together and ran our own “charity abseil team” we worked every Saturday/Sunday to help out others for many years. They were a major support and motivation throughout.
Oh, better not forget my former forces pals who also made me what I am today, I would like to thank all of them for my nomination.
Jock McInnes. Scone.
Surprising comment
Sir, On reading the comparison between prisoners’ Christmas menus and that of pensioners, recently, I was rather surprised by a comment from a Scottish Prison Service spokesman who said: “Prison can be a difficult time for those in custody.” I found myself thinking: “And whose fault is it they are in there?”
Muriel Wyse. 9 Denburn Court, Brechin.
Stations need new look
Sir, I read with interest (December 26) about the injection of £2.75 million into Scotland’s towns to make them more vibrant places to live.
It would be nice to hear that some of it is going towards a rejuvenation of Perth’s rail and bus stations, both of which are abysmal.
Lesley Kemp. The Orchard House, Dron, Bridge of Earn.
Will no-one save building?
Sir, It’s great that Dundee Civic Trust is drawing attention to the city centre conservation area review. The King’s Theatre, mentioned as one of the buildings “at risk” is already in a conservation area and is a listed building. This seems to afford little protection.
It is important in architectural and cultural terms to the city therefore it is an embarrassment to the city that it is in such a terrible state with trees growing from the roof and slime running down the walls. It is not, as reported, vacant. A nightclub operates there.
Efforts to get this building on the derelict property list by a local councillor at my request, a council group that supposedly ordinary citizens like myself can have an input, met a brick wall. Are there any politicians out there who are prepared to stand up and fight to save this precious building before it is too late?
Anya Lawrence. Gray Street. Broughty Ferry.