Jamie Stone warns 'the battle does not stop here' as scheduled flights return to Wick John O'Groats Airport
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Far north MP Jamie Stone has hailed the return of scheduled air links to and from Caithness as "fantastic" – while warning that "the battle does not stop here".
He is keen to see further flights operating from Wick John O'Groats Airport following the reinstatement of the Aberdeen route by Eastern Airways from the start of last week under a public service obligation (PSO).
At the same time, the area's MSP Maree Todd said she was "absolutely thrilled" by the move and she highlighted the substantial financial backing provided by the Scottish Government.
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) congratulated Caithness Chamber of Commerce on its key role in bringing back Wick passenger flights for the first time since March 2020.
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: "It is fantastic to see scheduled flights flying to and from Wick once again. People have waited a long time for this day to come, and I'm grateful to all partners for the immense amount of work that has gone into securing a route to Aberdeen.
"Progress to date has been hard-fought but the battle does not stop here. I have heard the calls to expand the service further, to Edinburgh or Glasgow, and I will continue to work with all stakeholders to make this a reality."
Ms Todd, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, said: “I am absolutely thrilled to see scheduled flights from Wick John O’Groats Airport up and running again. A huge thank-you is due to the many organisations who worked together to make this happen.
“At last we have a sustainable service with price-capped flights, dedicated to meeting the needs of the local community. Excellent!
“It would not have been possible without substantial financial backing from the Scottish Government, which is subsidising the flights. The Scottish Government will also continue to meet the full operational costs of the airport through its subsidy of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited [HIAL]."
Ms Todd added: “I look forward very much to a bright future for Caithness and Sutherland.”
David Richardson, FSB development manager for the Highlands and Islands, said: “This is wonderful news, and Caithness Chamber of Commerce and all those involved must be congratulated for making it happen.
“Not only does it bring Wick and Aberdeen much closer together, reducing the journey times between the two by over three hours, but it does so comparatively cheaply.
“No stone must be left unturned as we rebuild the economy in what we all hope is a post-pandemic world, and forging productive new links between businesses, economies and communities is key to success. This route offers so much and we must all hope that it becomes a permanent fixture.”
The chamber of commerce was the initial driving force behind the business case for a PSO and worked with others in the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership to help secure funding for three years from the Scottish Government and Highland Council.
The new service is operating up to twice daily each way on weekdays and Sundays. There will be an early-morning Wick departure on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from April 25.
The service operates on low-emission regional turbo-prop aircraft.
Adam Wheatley, managing director of Eastern Airways, who was among those on the first flight from Wick on Monday of last week, said: “There was a very warm and positive welcome from the Caithness community and those who have worked tremendously hard to see services restored and the culmination of their work.
"The wide array of onward connectivity available in a low-emission aircraft fits our belief in how sustainable aviation can meet the needs of the UK economy and extensive connectivity into the future.
“We welcome the positive engagement shown by all stakeholders and partners to bring this Wick John O’Groats to Aberdeen air service back. Eastern Airways will support the Caithness and north Sutherland community in wider accessibility in restoring services at the UK’s most northerly mainland airport.”
HIAL chairperson Lorna Jack said: “This new scheduled flight is the reward for a lot of hard work by many individuals and organisations who built a compelling case for a PSO, and they are to be commended on the success of those efforts.
“HIAL has invested millions of pounds in recent years to ensure Caithness has a sustainable and viable aviation infrastructure and I am delighted we can once again welcome air passengers to and from the region.“
The route offers a guaranteed pricing structure and connections to domestic and international destinations.
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