THE lifeline air service to Barra, famous for its beach runway, is under threat, Scotland on Sunday can reveal. Doubts have emerged over whether Loganair, the operator of the service, will bid for the contract when it comes up for renewal because of the exorbitant cost of maintaining its ageing aircraft.

Given the unique sand runways on the Hebridean island, Loganair's Twin Otter planes are the only ones in service that can be used on the route, and they are ageing. With other airlines reluctant to take over the route, the Scottish Government has been urged to emulate its partnership with the ferry company Caledonian MacBrayne, and spend about £4 million on a fleet of aircraft to lease to private operators.