New project officer to help promote and develop Aberdeen flights from Wick John O'Groats Airport
A project officer has been appointed to ensure that Public Service Obligation (PSO) flights from Wick continue to deliver for the far north.
The scheme was launched in April after years of political and business pressure to ensure scheduled passenger flights from Wick John O'Groats Airport were reinstated.
Eastern Airways operates flights between the Caithness airport and Aberdeen, with the PSO funded by Highland Council and Transport Scotland.
David Swanson, who grew up in Lybster, has taken on the new role of project officer for the year-round flights service. His role, funded by the council and Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd (DSRL), will oversee delivery of the contract, including ensuring the service is punctual, reliable and affordable.
Mr Swanson was formerly marketing and communications manager for Caithness Chamber of Commerce, which 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.
In his 10 years with the chamber, he supported the Caithness Transport Forum and Wick John O’Groats Airport Consultative Committee, playing a key role in the development of the business case for the PSO and the partnership efforts to secure funding.
In his new role Mr Swanson will also work to promote the PSO route and to develop relationships with key stakeholders including airports, the tourism industry and the business communities in both the north Highland and Aberdeen areas.
He said: “I am delighted to take up this new and exciting role, supporting a vital, lifeline service for the region. I know just how important good connectivity is to this region, and the service from Wick to Aberdeen offers fantastic links not only to the rest of Scotland but to the wider UK and beyond. The feedback from the first few months of operation has been really positive, and I look 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.
“Looking to the future, we are on the cusp of a major shift in regional aviation as new, green aviation technologies start to come into service over the next few years, and I believe that the north Highlands has real potential to be a global leader in rolling out these new developments.”
Council leader Raymond Bremner, who is also chairman of the Wick John O’Groats Airport Consultative Committee, is delighted that David has taken up the post. He said: “We fought long and hard to get the PSO in place and now that it is, there is a lot of hard work to be done.
"In his previous role with Chamber of Commerce, David showed great skill in connecting with all stakeholders and helping to drive forward our ambitions for the airport. He will continue to play a pivotal role as his remit also includes a range of activities around socio-economic development and enhanced connectivity.
"David’s role will be key in making sure that the PSO route is successful and that it delivers opportunities to the wider community across the region.”
Mark Rouse, managing director of DSRL, said: “DSRL is delighted to support this important post which will endeavour to ensure the continuity of flights from Wick John O’Groats Airport. David is a perfect fit, having helped the Caithness Chamber of Commerce put together the business plan that helped bring the PSO to the far north.”
Roger Hage, general manager at Eastern Airways, added: “It is very refreshing to see Highland Council engage with the appointment of David Swanson in a business focused capacity to support their partnership with Eastern Airways in developing air services at Wick John O’Groats Airport to Aberdeen. David’s expertise, local knowledge and energy will make a difference when it comes to making the north Highlands accessible to the wider UK and Europe via Aberdeen with the twice daily service. It is all about maximising the potential of the air service from this local airport.”
The service currently operates 24 flights a week, Sunday to Friday, including three Sunday flights, two leaving Aberdeen and one leaving Wick. The aircraft is stationed overnight at Wick from Sunday to Tuesday to provide the community with early morning flights to Aberdeen leaving at 7.20am.
The flight schedule has been designed to provide maximum opportunity for onward and incoming connections through Aberdeen Airport both nationally and internationally including London Heathrow, Birmingham, Belfast City, Manchester, Newcastle, Bristol, Southampton, Schiphol, Dublin and Stavanger.