Wick to Aberdeen flights not affected by sale of Eastern Airways

EASTERN Airways has been sold by Bristow Helicopters Ltd, but the change in ownership will not affect the operation of its Wick John O'Groats to Aberdeen route.

That was made clear by a company spokesman who said yesterday: "The change of ownership has no impact on Eastern Airways Wick John O’Groats to Aberdeen route, which continues to operate as normal."

The company has become an independent airline once again after the UK regional operator was acquired from Bristow Helicopters Limited.

The airline has been acquired by Richard Lake, former owner of Eastern Airways, and will continue to operate as normal providing scheduled services as a franchise partner of Flybe, specialist oil and gas contracts, corporate shuttles for blue-chip companies, and ad-hoc private charter services.

The team also will continue to support Bristow’s Northern North Sea operations with a fixed-wing flying programme.

Tony Burgess, managing director of Eastern Airways, said: "Back as an independent operator, we will focus on opportunities to enhance and grow this business. We will continue to work in close partnership with Bristow in the UK providing fixed-wing operations to support the North Sea oil and gas sector."

Eastern Airways was formed in 1997 and operates a network of schedule flights serving predominantly the North Sea oil and gas industry. The airline also specialises in providing customer focused charter services for the oil and gas industry, corporate and sports contracts and ad-hoc charters.

The company operates from airports throughout the UK and parts of Europe, including Wick John O'Groats, Aberdeen, Sumburgh, Newcastle, Norwich, Humberside, Cardiff, Paris Orly and Southampton.

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