Highland Council leader in 'use it or lose it' reminder over Wick/Aberdeen air route
A "use it or lose it" message has been sent out over the Wick/Aberdeen air route that was reintroduced earlier this year.
Raymond Bremner, the leader of Highland Council and chairman of Wick John O’Groats Airport Consultative Committee, said those who fought for a public service obligation (PSO) needed to prove that the arrangement was working.
Councillor Bremner, who represents Wick and East Caithness, was speaking at the November meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council on Monday night.
Eastern Airways brought back the Aberdeen link in April, with a guaranteed pricing structure and offering connections to domestic and international destinations.
The airline has since made timing amendments in response to community feedback.
The service operates 24 flights a week, Sunday to Friday, including three Sunday flights, two leaving Aberdeen and one leaving Wick.
Community councillor Allan Bruce said: “We know there are a couple of flights where the uptake has been poor.
"They're not wanting to get rid of them – what they're talking about doing with them is maybe flexing them to a different slot.”
Last month David Swanson was appointed as project officer for the Wick PSO, a role funded jointly by Highland Council and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd.
He said at the time he was looking forward to working closely with Eastern Airways "to ensure that we continue to deliver a fantastic service to those living and working in the north Highlands".
Mr Bruce reported that Mr Swanson would be willing to attend a community council meeting, adding: "He is open to any suggestions whatsoever.”
Councillor Bremner said: "We have to prove within a period of time that we've made that PSO work, having fought so hard to get it.
“We're talking about flexing as much as we possibly can when you get feedback.
“It's really important to get feedback, because without the feedback you don't know what it is you're actually looking to change. But the main thing is to try and get bums on seats on the flights that are not so well supported.
“They have seen increased passenger usage since we've been monitoring it. They're still not quite at the levels that we would like to see them at but they're going in the right direction.
“It's being looked at quite critically month on month. The PSO group still meets and we now have Eastern Airways in attendance at that.
“Everybody that's involved in that PSO arrangement is working their socks off. It will be a case of 'use it or lose it'."
He added: “The case that was put forward was mainly business use. There really needs to be a dialogue with businesses and Caithness Chamber of Commerce and those who committed to supporting it from a business point of view – because if we can get that level, that would really boost that PSO route."
Councillor Bremner noted that the way online meetings have become commonplace for many businesses since the pandemic, allied to the present financial climate, "is a challenge".