Expectations are running high in the Highlands as the procurement process has officially opened to find a new airline for the Wick – Aberdeen PSO service, following the abrupt withdrawal of Eastern Airways last month. The rapid response sees a 72-hour window for prospective operators to submit bids, with officials aiming to announce the successful applicant next Thursday.
The emergency contract, set initially for four months but with an option for extension if funding allows, underlines the route’s status as an economic lifeline for Caithness and surrounding regions. Council Leader and Chair of the Wick Airport Steering Group, Cllr Raymond Bremner, emphasised the unanimous determination of all stakeholders to see flights resume as quickly as possible.
Bremner highlighted the essential role of the service in maintaining vital connectivity between North Highland and the central belt, crucial for both local business needs and wider community well-being. While the emergency tender marks a setback after the PSO’s sudden cessation on 27 October, Highland Council has reiterated its long-term commitment, confirming that a business case for ongoing support has already been submitted to Transport Scotland.
Council Leader and Chair of the Wick Airport Steering Group, Cllr Raymond Bremner said: “Since Eastern Airways pulled out of delivering the PSO on the 27 October with no prior notice, the focus of all stakeholders has been very much on getting flights back up in the air as soon as possible.”
“The Wick to Aberdeen flights provide crucial connectivity between north Highland and the central belt and our priority is to reinstate the service as quickly as possible, for the benefit of local businesses and the wider community.
“While this need of an Emergency Tender is a setback, it doesn’t affect our commitment to securing the service in the next financial year, and we have already submitted a business case to Transport Scotland.”
With the tender process now live, local leaders, businesses, and residents are united in their hope that flights will soon be “back up in the air”, ensuring the region remains connected during a critical economic period.
