MP Jamie Stone urges Prime Minister to 'look favourably' on request to increase flights from Wick John O'Groats Airport

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been urged to "look favourably" on a request to try to increase the number of flights which operate to and from Wick John O'Groats Airport.

The plea was made by Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross MP Jamie Stone, who claims that UK government-supported projects such as the Cromarty Firth freeport and the spaceport in Sutherland would "benefit hugely by having the best transport infrastructure".

He also said a route from the north to Manchester would be "particularly important for constituents who work at Dounreay".

Mr Stone, a Liberal Democrat MP, said: "Having a fully functioning airport is all well and good but it's time for Wick airport to include a choice of destinations around Scotland and beyond the border. With the green freeport and the Sutherland spaceport under way, my constituents need to be connected to all four corners of the United Kingdom so that the full potential of these initiatives can be realised."

He added: "I hope the Prime Minister will look favourably on this request. I will endeavour to raise the issue when I can in Prime Minister's Questions and look forward to his response to this letter."

In his letter to Rishi Sunak, Mr Stone said: "The freeport could make a real difference in terms of high value employment for the years to come. The ball is now very much in the court of local businesses in the Highlands to make sure that this potential is realised, and I have no doubt that it will be.

"As you will be aware, work to construct the Sutherland spaceport is due to start shortly. This exciting development will lead to space-based work that will benefit both the local economy of the north Highlands and also the international standing of the UK itself."

Mr Stone described these projects as "promising initiatives" and added: "We have a functioning airport at Wick, however the airport is not as used as fully as it could be.

"I'd be very grateful if the government could have a look at increasing the number of destinations that could be flown to and from Wick."

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