Call for Wick airport to be safeguarded after Flybe collapse
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A CALL has been made for UK Government action to safeguard the future of services at Wick John O'Groats Airport following the collapse of Flybe, the UK's biggest regional airline.
The company blamed its decision on financial problems and a drop in bookings due to fears about the coronavirus. It had a franchise agreement with Eastern Airways which runs the service between the Caithness airport and Aberdeen.
The plea was made by Jamie Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, who said: "The collapse of Flybe is seriously bad news for people needing to use the airport which is vital to local businesses and people in Caithness.
"It is quite clear the Government must step in with a public service obligation that will guarantee a service for the future. A failure to do this is completely unacceptable for us in the far north."
His concerns were shared by Caithness civic leader Willie Mackay, who said the loss of Flybe "couldn't have come at a worse time" as the airport is already facing pressures.
"This is not good news," Councillor Mackay said. "I’m bitterly disappointed and hope a solution can be worked out and there will be no further impact on the future of the airport.
"I’m proud of the fact that Wick is the only town in the north of Scotland that can be reached by road, rail, sea and air. Let's keep it that way."
Trudy Morris, chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, described the Flybe announcement as "an extremely unfortunate development" but she did not anticipate "any direct impact on Eastern Airways flights in and out of Wick".
However, she said: "It very starkly illustrates the pressures facing individual operators and the regional aviation market as a whole.
"Businesses across Caithness rely on regional aviation. Regular, reliable connections from Wick open up Scotland, the rest of the UK and beyond, increasing access to customers and investors. Flybe’s situation must prompt urgent action from both the Scottish and UK governments.
"The situation with Flybe highlights that regional aviation is a market in a precarious state. We are working locally to protect and develop air services. We will be looking to government to match that ambition and respond urgently to this situation."
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart raised the collapse of Flybe, especially in relation to the service run under franchise by Eastern Airways from Wick, in the Scottish Parliament this morning. He supports the call for a public service obligation to be granted at Wick.
"Air services are vital for this remote, rural area and I fully support the campaign to ring-fence them," he said.
Inverness-based economist Tony Mackay said: "Wick will be worse affected because Flybe accounted for one of only two services there – to Aberdeen. I believe Loganair might be interested in taking over that service but if not there must be a serious doubt over the future of Wick."
An Eastern Airways spokesman said: "Passengers booked to travel on Flybe flights operated by Eastern Airways, including the Aberdeen/Wick service, are to check in as normal with booking confirmation as flights will be departing as normal. We will honour all bookings up to and including Monday.
"Revised details for bookings will be advised via our website in due course. As an independent airline we shall restore the former stand-alone booking processes and ensure no effect to the regional air services we operate."
Wick John O'Groats Airport also reassured customers that all Flybe flights between Wick and Aberdeen will "continue to be operated as normal by Eastern Airways".
Flybe chief executive Mark Anderson expressed his "deep regret" the company had gone into administration with immediate effect.
"We have been unable to overcome significant funding challenges... and this has been compounded by the outbreak of coronavirus which in the last few days has resulted in a significant impact on demand," he said.
He confirmed that all flights operated by Flybe have been cancelled.
Scotland's transport secretary Michael Matheson said his officials had spoken to Loganair, which is preparing to take up "a number of Flybe’s former routes".
Mr Matheson sad: "The Scottish Government and its agencies will continue to work closely with Scotland’s airports to deliver our collective route development ambitions in a highly competitive global market. We have a strong track record helping airports improve connectivity and that work will continue."
Flybe was owned by Virgin Atlantic, Cyrus Capital and Stobart Air and catered for around eight million passengers a year. The airline, which was based in Exeter, narrowly avoided going bust in January. Its demise puts around 2000 jobs at risk.
A spokesperson for Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd said: “Our thoughts are with Flybe employees and customers at this time. Flybe flights from Inverness to both Belfast City airport and Birmingham airport are no longer operating.
"Anyone with a flight booked with Flybe should not travel to the airport and should contact the airline.
“Eastern Airways has confirmed that flights between Wick John O’Groats and Aberdeen will run as normal. Anyone travelling on this route should contact Eastern Airways if they require more information.”
