Loganair Delivers Magical Scenic Flight For CHAS Families

Children living with life-shortening conditions and their families were treated to a rare airborne adventure from Glasgow Airport, as Loganair and Children’s Hospices Across Scotland (CHAS) teamed up to operate a special scenic flight over Scotland’s west coast.

A One-Off Flight From Glasgow With Memories Built In

According to regional coverage, the charter operated on Saturday 5 September 2026 from Loganair’s Glasgow Airport base, carrying six CHAS-supported families on a loop over the Highlands and Islands before returning to the city. Reports indicate that the dedicated service was flown by one of the airline’s ATR 72-600 turboprops, with the flight numbered LM1996 in a nod to the year CHAS’s first children’s hospice, Rachel House, opened its doors.

Publicly available information shows that families began their day in Glasgow Airport’s Campsie Lounge, where they were welcomed with activities designed to make the experience feel like a holiday from the moment they arrived. Character visits, singalongs and a child-friendly soft play set-up helped ease pre-flight nerves and created a relaxed atmosphere before boarding.

For many of the young passengers, some of whom are reported to have complex medical needs, this was either a first flight or a very rare chance to travel together as a family. Local media describe the event as a carefully planned, time-limited escape tailored to what each child could comfortably manage, with staff and volunteers on hand throughout the day.

Observers note that Glasgow Airport, already a major hub for Loganair’s Highlands and Islands network, provided a symbolic starting point for a journey that stayed within Scotland but still felt far removed from day-to-day hospital visits and care routines.

West Coast Scenery From A Loganair ATR

Once airborne from Glasgow, the ATR 72-600 followed a route that gave families broad views of Scotland’s rugged west coast and island landscapes. Coverage in regional outlets highlights a flight path designed to showcase sea lochs, islands and mountain ranges that many of the children had only ever seen in pictures.

Reports indicate that the round-trip routing remained within a relatively short flying time to keep the experience manageable, while still recreating the feel of a genuine holiday flight. The combination of low cruising altitudes and clear conditions for parts of the journey provided ample opportunities for views across the Clyde estuary and further north and west.

The choice of aircraft is also notable. The ATR 72-600 is a mainstay of Loganair’s regional fleet and typically serves lifeline routes to remote Scottish communities. Using it for a bespoke scenic charter aligned the event with the airline’s wider role connecting the mainland to the Highlands and Islands, but in this case with the sole purpose of creating memories rather than getting passengers from A to B.

Travel observers point out that Scotland has become known for distinctive aviation experiences, from Glasgow services into the Outer Hebrides to the world’s shortest scheduled route in Orkney. This dedicated CHAS flight added a new, highly personal chapter to that aviation story.

Charity Partnership Turned Into A Day Out

The special scenic service built on a charity relationship that has been growing steadily in recent years. According to publicly available information, Loganair and Children’s Hospices Across Scotland formalised their partnership in 2021, with the airline supporting hospice services and CHAS at Home outreach across the country.

Reports indicate that Loganair has raised more than £100,000 for CHAS since the partnership began, helped in part by a voluntary £2 donation option added to online bookings in 2024. The airline has also provided flights for CHAS nurses to reach families living in remote island communities, integrating the charity into its broader regional operation.

The Glasgow scenic flight is described in local coverage as the latest in a small series of bespoke experiences that Loganair has arranged for CHAS families, following previous themed flights from other Scottish airports. Each event has been tailored around specific groups of children and timed to coincide with holiday periods or special occasions.

Industry observers note that for CHAS, which runs hospices and home-based services across Scotland, such initiatives do not replace day-to-day clinical and respite care but complement it by offering rare shared experiences outside the usual environment.

Immersive Extras On The Ground And In The Air

Accounts of the day highlight that the experience extended well beyond the flight itself. Before departure, families spent time in the Campsie Lounge, where entertainment partners helped transform the space into a child-focused departure area. Local reports mention character meet-and-greets and interactive activities that brought an informal, theme-park feel to the pre-boarding period.

On board, the sense of occasion continued. According to published coverage, performers in character as Princess Merida and Spider-Gwen joined the flight, circulating through the cabin as the aircraft cruised over the west coast. The combination of costumed visitors, attentive crew and scenic views appears to have been central to the experience for many of the children.

The event also drew support from airport teams and external partners who helped to manage logistics, accessibility and medical requirements. Reports from regional outlets describe coordinated planning designed to keep transfers smooth, minimise waiting times and ensure that equipment needs were factored into the boarding and disembarkation process.

Observers note that this level of coordination is particularly important in aviation settings, where security procedures and time pressures can be challenging even for routine travel, and becomes critical when accommodating families dealing with serious illness.

Part Of A Broader Pattern Of Inclusive Aviation

While the Glasgow scenic flight was a one-off event, it fits into a broader pattern of inclusive aviation initiatives emerging across Scotland. Previous CHAS-related flights with Loganair have departed from Aberdeen and Edinburgh, and coverage indicates similar emphasis on creating short but impactful experiences in the air.

More broadly, Loganair’s network from Glasgow links mainland Scotland to island communities and remote regions that rely heavily on air services, and the airline has a long track record of operating lifeline routes. That context has made it a natural partner for organisations working with families who may struggle to travel long distances by road or ferry.

Travel commentators point out that airports and airlines increasingly view tailored events like this as a way to make aviation more accessible, particularly to passengers who might otherwise find the environment overwhelming or impossible to navigate. The CHAS scenic flight from Glasgow is one of the most recent examples of how that thinking is being put into practice in the Scottish market.

For the families on board, the result was a compact but carefully designed day trip that combined the novelty of flying, the drama of Scotland’s coastal scenery and a level of support calibrated to their specific needs. While the service was not open to the public, its visibility within the airport and local media has drawn attention to how targeted charitable partnerships can reshape what a “flight experience” looks like.

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce coverage of the CHAS scenic flight

Highland Times report on the Loganair-CHAS flight from Glasgow

North Edinburgh News feature on Loganair’s support for CHAS families