‘Unfortunate’ reliability issues with Wick-Aberdeen flights discussed
Urgent talks are being held in a bid to restore passenger confidence in the Wick/Aberdeen air route.
Community representatives have complained about a recent rash of delays and cancellations in the service operated by Eastern Airways.
Thurso Community Community Council chairwoman Thelma Macenzie is aware of a lot of private and business travellers having had their travel plans disrupted in recent weeks.
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"I know of people who have had flights cancelled and oil workers who have had to take their cars up and down to Aberdeen because of this," she said at this week’s meeting of Dounreay Stakeholder Group (DSG).
"We're the forgotten county here."
The Aberdeen flights were reinstated in 2022 after £2 million of public funding was secured to subsidise the route with a three year public service obligation.
Peter Faccenda, programme manager of Focus North, said he too is aware of the recent disruption to the service.
He said: "There have been discussions to resolve some of the unfortunate reliability issues involving staff and equipment that have happened recently.
"I know a meeting is planned in the very near future to try and thrash out what has been going on."
Trudy Morris, chief executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said officials from Transport Scotland are involved in the discussions.
"We all worked really hard to get the public service obligation so these issues with reliability are extremely frustrating but we're in the hands of the airline," she said.
DSG chairman Struan Mackie said the problems need to be nipped in the bud to restore passenger confidence in the service.
He said: "We fought very hard to restore the flights and it is a lifeline service for this area."
He added: "I understand the public's frustration. You only have to see Facebook comments when flights are cancelled."
DSG vice chair David Alexander said he understood penalty clauses can be invoked in the public service obligation contract for shortcomings in the service.
Eastern Airways was approached for comment on this story.