Loganair has paid tribute to one of Scottish aviation’s most influential figures by naming a new aircraft after former chairman and president Scott Grier OBE.
The honour recognises Grier’s remarkable 36-year career with the airline, during which he helped transform Loganair from a small regional operator into the UK’s largest regional carrier. When he joined in 1976 as financial manager, the airline had just five aircraft and 44 staff; by the time he retired, it had grown into a cornerstone of regional connectivity across the UK.
Grier was appointed managing director in 1983 and went on to lead the airline through a period of rapid expansion and significant industry change. That leadership culminated in a management buyout in 1997, after which he became chairman and largest shareholder, rebuilding both the business and its brand. Over the following 15 years, turnover rose from around £5 million to £72.6 million, while annual passenger numbers grew from roughly 50,000 to more than 527,000.
The newly named ATR-72 aircraft was unveiled at a ceremony at Glasgow Airport, where Loganair Chief Executive Luke Farajallah spoke about Grier’s lasting impact on the sector. Farajallah said Scottish aviation would simply not be where it is today without Grier’s efforts, describing him as a titan of the industry and calling the naming a fitting tribute to his contribution to the business. He added that the aircraft would operate across Loganair’s network for years to come, serving as a lasting tribute to someone who championed connectivity across the country.
Grier described the honour as both humbling and deeply meaningful, saying he still feels the same excitement arriving at the airport today as he did nearly 50 years ago when his career began. He spoke of his continued passion for the sector, pointing to the huge potential for aviation in Scotland and his enthusiasm for encouraging young people to consider careers in the industry.
Grier retired as chairman in September 2012, a milestone that coincided with Loganair’s 50th anniversary. He sold his stake in the business to brothers Stephen and Peter Bond and took on the role of the airline’s first president. That same year, he became the inaugural recipient of the Scottish Aviation Award from the Baird of Bute Society, in recognition of his significant contribution to the industry. He used the occasion to launch the Loganair-Baird Flying Scholarship, which offers a Highlands and Islands school-leaver 12 hours of flying lessons annually.
Grier later chronicled his decades in the industry in Loganair: A Scottish Survivor 1962–2012, a detailed history of the airline drawn from his own experience within the business.
Today, Loganair employs more than 900 staff and operates a network of over 70 routes to more than 40 destinations, including Campbeltown, Shetland, Orkney, Jersey, the Isle of Man, London and Dublin.
The naming of the aircraft stands as a lasting tribute to a figure widely regarded as one of the key architects of modern aviation in Scotland.
