Loganair urged to look at ‘mutually beneficial’ Wick stop-offs
An approach has been made to Loganair asking whether flights to and from Orkney can stop off at Wick – a move that would boost connectivity for Caithness while generating extra business for the airline.
The suggestion was made by local resident Jacqueline Innes, who recently started a Facebook group against a backdrop of frustration over Eastern Airways’ Wick/Aberdeen service.
There have been regular complaints about delays and late cancellations on the route, which is supported by a public service obligation (PSO) funded by the Scottish Government and Highland Council.
Loganair’s destinations from Kirkwall Airport include Edinburgh, Glasgow and London Heathrow as well as Aberdeen, Inverness and Sumburgh.
Mrs Innes, from Reay, put forward “a potential opportunity for Loganair to enhance air connectivity for Caithness while also benefiting from increased passenger numbers”.
In a letter to the airline, she wrote: “At present, the only scheduled service from Wick to Aberdeen is operated by Eastern Airways, but reliability issues have been a concern. In the past, Loganair provided a Wick/Edinburgh service, but this is no longer available.
“Given the need for improved transport links in the region, I would like to propose a possible solution that could be mutually beneficial.
“Wick is only around 15 minutes by air from Kirkwall, and I note that Loganair operates regular services from Kirkwall to multiple destinations. Would it be feasible to introduce a stop in Wick on some of these flights?
“Even if not every flight included Wick as a stop, a select number of services incorporating Wick could significantly improve connectivity for local residents and businesses.
“This adjustment could serve to increase passenger numbers on existing routes, benefiting both Caithness travellers and Loganair’s financial performance. With more people able to access flights through Wick, Loganair could potentially capture additional market share in the region while supporting essential transport links.”
Mrs Innes asked the airline for its thoughts on whether stopping at Wick John O’Groats Airport could be “a viable option”.
A spokesperson for the airline said there are no plans to change its routes at present “but Loganair constantly keeps network opportunities in mind for the future”.
Mrs Innes and her husband Ian are regular users of the Wick/Aberdeen service.
She created the Facebook group Eastern Airways – Caithness Tracker to bring together statistics and passenger experiences. The group now has more than 450 members.
Earlier this week, Mrs Innes highlighted concerns from regular users of the Wick/Aberdeen link. These include claims that Caithness travellers are having to put up with a “second-class” service and that flights to and from Wick are “treated as an afterthought” by Eastern Airways.
Flights were reinstated in April 2022 under a PSO funded by the Scottish Government at £1 million a year and Highland Council with an annual contribution of £300,000. Continued government funding into the financial year 2025/26 was announced last month.
Less than a fortnight after the Scottish Government funding announcement, a revised timetable came into effect with Monday and Friday morning flights dropped from the schedule.
Councillor Raymond Bremner, the Highland Council leader and chairman of the Wick John O’Groats Airport Working Group, said last week the changes had been made “in order to ensure the continued sustainability of the route”.
It means the service continues to operate six days per week, but now with a single return flight on all weekdays as well as Sundays.
