Seems that the current Highland management ploy is to blame HMRC for being unreasonable and ultimately responsible for their plight

Now I’m no fan of the taxman, and, for the sake of crew and staff at Highland, would love to see a successful outcome, but one has to ask:

If Highland owes HMRC nearly £500k…are they viable in their present form?

That will be cash deducted from salaries in the shape of PAYE etc and VAT on VAT able charters and contracts. That’s money (our money), they have had the use of, and owe fair and square. It’s not some unfair tax on profit…there is none!!

Highland has had a shed load of financial support from HIE etc and management have simply got it wrong.

For HMRC to let them build up debt of that magnitude is not them being 'unreasonable' as suggested…I would argue that HMRC have been a bit too fee and easy with our money!

Lets hope for all concerned that the business can be put back on a stable footing, but is ACS a solution?:rolleyes::confused:

Good luck to crew and staff

Highland have gone into administration as of last night. All staff redundant with immediate effect.

Link to BBC report

BBC News - Highland Airways 'goes into administration'

Thoughts are with all the staff affected.

My thoughts are with all of my former colleagues and friends at HWY.
A company which, at its best, was truly a pleasure to work for.
Exciting times were had, in the true spirit of the Atlantic group.
Varied flying, great colleagues and a family feel.
I don't know what went wrong, but I am sure questions will be asked by those that are concerned.
Stay strong guys..

Paul.

On BBC website:

BBC News - Highland Airways 'goes into administration'

good to work with you all (mostly!)
 

sad day today.

Been great to work with all at highland, and i wish everyone all the best for the future.

Special thanks to our useless directors (2 in particular) who have helped to grind the business down, thanks to their total lack of skill and professionalism. You should feel ashamed.:D

Things can only get better.:ugh:

Deepest sympathies to all those who work for Highland.

The question has to be asked, how did it all go so wrong so quickly?

My deepest sympathy to all those affected by the closure of Highlands..:sad:

what went wrong:confused:

Good crew, good blokes in engineering good routes but **** senior management paid shed loads of dosh.:confused:

Oh Dear
 

Sorry to all employees concerned, however, I do not believe the report that the Clydesdale Bank agreed to write off nearly £1million debt. If that is the case they can give me the £84k they currently 'owe' me. Secondly, if a government subsidised entity, (Western Isles routes were allegedly), to run up an HMRC debt of over £500,000, I assume in unpaid PAYE/NI, whilst getting taxpayers money, is frankly astonishing:sad:
Obviously we do not 'know' the facts, however, the whole scenario appears odd, add ACS, to the mix, then it becomes surreal:(
The headline numbers would indicate it unviable for anyone.

Ahh, dammit. All the best everyone.

Sad News :(

Does this mean that the Scottish Fisheries patrol is also grounded?

A sad day for all concerned, I fully agree with you CRX, there were good days and bad days of course but Highland on a good day was one of the best jobs on earth.

I suspect that if they had stayed a small time J31-and-C406 operator and making a small, sustainable profit, and if certain over ambitious and under experienced management had not tried to bite off more than they could chew, with all the big expansion and big borrowings for the J41s based on not-so-secure contracts, then none of this would have been necessary and everyone would still have their job today.

Hope the boys and girls find something else as quick as possible, good luck to you all :sad:

Does this mean that the Scottish Fisheries patrol is also grounded?

The aircraft may be grounded for a few days whilst they contract with another operator. However Scottish Marine have other ways and means of monitoring illegal fishing activities.

Good luck to everybody, lots of good pilots there, always fun to fly the Jetstream 31.
My best wishes to everybody.

I wonder which two you mean?!!!:DNot all were useless and some worked tirelessly to save the company so well done to them. Sad time for all the staff. Good luck for the future.:ok: