Optimism is sky-high as Aberdeen flights return to Wick John O'Groats Airport

Seven hundred and sixty-one days after the last scheduled flight from Wick John O'Groats Airport, an Aberdeen-bound plane took to the skies again this week – bringing with it a renewed sense of optimism about the prospects for the local economy.

Eastern Airways' 29-seater Jetstream 41 rose from the Wick runway at 12.32pm on Monday and touched down in the Granite City precisely 25 minutes later. "Connectivity" was the buzzword as business leaders and tourism representatives hailed the return of passenger services as an exciting step for the far north in its recovery from the pandemic.

The service is operating under a public service obligation (PSO) for three years, funded annually by £1 million from Transport Scotland and £300,000 from Highland Council. Around 20 new direct and indirect jobs are being created.

Caithness Chamber of Commerce developed the original business case for a PSO and worked alongside others in the Caithness and North Sutherland Regeneration Partnership to secure the funding.

Chamber chief executive Trudy Morris was among the 23 passengers on the first flight out of Wick, along with the organisation's vice-chairperson Louise Sinclair and its digital marketing and communications officer Marion Reid.

Ms Morris said: “The return of lifeline air services to Wick John O’Groats Airport has been one the highest priorities of the chamber for a number of years, and I am delighted to see our efforts, and those of our partners, bear fruit. It has been a long, hard road to get here and it would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of partners across the region.

"These flights are a real testament to what can be achieved through partnership working between the private and public sectors.

“Our thanks go to the Scottish Government for committing the funding that made this possible, and to Highland Council both for its direct financial contribution and for all its hard work in designing and procuring the service."

She added: “The return of flights marks a starting point, not an ending. Air connectivity remains vital to businesses and communities across the north Highlands and we will continue to work for the further development of lifeline connectivity to and from the region.

“The timetable already offers a good range of connectivity to domestic and international destinations and, as the aviation industry recovers post-Covid, this will only improve further.”

Also making the return journey on Monday were Lorna Jack, chairperson of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL); Ellie Lamont, vice-chairperson of Venture North, the destination management organisation for tourism in Caithness and Sutherland; and Gordon Duncan, Highland Council senior procurement specialist, who was involved in preparing the contract documents.

Ms Jack said: "We're delighted to see scheduled services back at Wick airport, and this one in particular to Aberdeen as there's lots of connections between the communities in Caithness and the communities in Aberdeen. It's really good news.

"You'd like to think that it will be well supported by the community. As airport operator we'll play our part in ensuring that our landing charges support a successful operation here.

"It's a great day and great to see us flying from here again."

Mrs Lamont said: "It's great to see things opening up again and it's a fabulous opportunity for both business and leisure tourism being able to travel up and down to Aberdeen in one day, organise day trips when they're coming up with local tourist attractions, and also stay overnight in the hotels here and do even more in the area.

"There is so much to see, so rather than taking two weeks you can maybe organise to take a day, or a day and a night, and then explore even more. A lot of people come up here and they find things that they enjoy, and then they always say they'll come back, so this is equally an opportunity for that."

Earlier, there was an air of quiet celebration in the Wick airport terminal. Complimentary drams of Old Pulteney were on offer, and as the Jetstream flew in, slightly later than planned, Lord Thurso – Lord-Lieutenant of Caithness and chairman of the national tourism organisation VisitScotland – joined HIAL's north airports general manager Dougie Cook in welcoming the first travellers to arrive from Aberdeen.

When the time came for the plane to depart, there was a brief waterspout salute from the airport fire service.

Lord Thurso said: "I'm delighted to see scheduled flights back at Wick airport. Connectivity is absolutely at the heart of all commerce, and also obviously the tourist trade.

"The ability to connect down to Aberdeen is really important and so getting the PSO and getting a scheduled flight here will be a great boost to business generally. But also it secures the future of Wick airport, because one would have had to ask the question, 'How long do you keep a fully functioning airport open when you haven't got any flights?'

"Having this helps to keep the airport open and I hope in due course that more flights will come from other destinations and we'll get back one day to the sort of level of scheduled flights that we used to enjoy seven or eight years ago."

It was a memorable occasion for nine-year-old Kian Bell, from Macduff, who was flying for the first time. He made the return journey from Aberdeen with dad Kevin Bell and mum Karen Riddoch, who was also on her first flight.

The family decided to make a couple of short hops to get used to the idea of flying before planning any longer-haul journeys. Mr Bell said: "It's an extreme day out, but why not?"

Adam Wheatley, managing director of Eastern Airways, also joined the flight from Wick and reported that initial bookings had been encouraging.

"Connectivity is key for this region so we're really pleased to be starting the service up again," Mr Wheatley said. "It gives business and leisure travellers the ability to connect to Aberdeen for business, or to go on to domestic or international flights."