Cuts to opening hours and unreliable flights impacting on Wick airport
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REDUCED opening hours, the unreliability of some flights and the possibility of strike action by air traffic controllers are having a negative impact on Wick John O'Groats Airport, it has been claimed.
Thurso and Wick Trade Union Council is concerned about what is happening at a time when Caithness is seeking inward investment to counter the rundown and loss of jobs at Dounreay.
Members have no issue with staff but are unhappy about the service provided by some airlines and the cut in opening hours.
Trade council chairman Davie Alexander said some customers are reluctant to use the airport because flights are delayed or sometimes don't go at all.
"It can be a case of cross your fingers and hope for the best at times," he said.
It was pointed out that oil workers regularly used the airport but due to cutbacks in the industry and the unreliability of the flights from Wick fewer people are now doing so.
"It is not good for the airport," Mr Alexander added.
The problems could intensify if strike action planned by air traffic controllers at Wick John O'Groats and six other airports in the Highlands and Islands goes ahead.
A series of 24-hour strikes is planned in support of a pay claim. A meeting between management, union representatives and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is due to take place on Tuesday in a bid to reach a solution to the dispute. But if there is no agreement a 24-strike is planned for April 26.
It would affect airports at Wick, Benbecula, Dundee, Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh.
Earlier, the trade council expressed its dismay with the service provided by ScotRail on the far north line.
The upgrade of the maintenance workshop in Inverness was welcomed but it was felt that more should be done to try and cut the journey time between Caithness and the Highland capital which is about four hours.
Improvements have been undertaken on the line but according to the trade union representatives they will just take a few minutes off the journey.
Mr Alexander said rail operators in Europe seem to have good trains which run on time. "We thought when Abellio [a Dutch company] took over ScotRail they would bring us into the 21st century but it is not happening," he said.
John Deighan commented: "We are a low priority for them."
Meanwhile, members were pleased the upgrade at Berriedale Braes is going ahead. They said the improvement would make a difference to drivers and businesses in Caithness.
