Next steps to support reintroduction of air services to Skye
A report outlining recent work undertaken by a Working Group set up to support the reintroduction of air services to Skye was discussed by local Members of the Highland Council, Isle of Skye and Raasay Committee earlier today (Monday 4 March).
Members of the Committee approved a recommendation for the Chair of the Highland Council’ s Environment, Development and Infrastructure (EDI) Committee to write to the Transport Secretary on behalf of the local Working Group partners (the Council, HITRANS and HIE) requesting financial and technical support to introduce trial air services between Skye and Glasgow utilising the existing airstrip at Ashaig.
Eilean na Cheò Councillors also agreed to recommend to the EDI Committee that they approve £170K of additional funds to undertake further engagement with statutory bodies and preparation work.
During today’s meeting members asked questions around issues that had been raised by constituents. Speaking after the committee Chair Cllr John Gordon said: ““In 2016 our Committee first discussed the business case for developing air services to and from Skye and I would like to thank and acknowledge the efforts of the Working Group for moving things considerably forward.
“Good transport links, including regional air connectivity, are vital to the economic success of communities in the Highlands and Islands. Skye is one of the areas in Scotland that is furthest away from a scheduled air service. Due to the airstrip’s location it won’t only bring benefits to the Isle of Skye but Lochalsh, Wester Ross, the wider west coast of the Highlands will also benefit.”
During 2018 work was commissioned which undertook an analysis of best value options, based on a 19-seat twin otter aircraft, on Skye in the short term. Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) provided significant input that has enabled the project to benefit from the extensive expertise their staff have from operating and maintaining a network of similar airports across the Highlands and Islands. The work identified that this could be achieved for an overall value in the range of £1.53m to £1.77m.
The annual operational costs for an upgraded licenced airport have been estimated at a range of £320k to £380k.
Preliminary work has been undertaken to review the most suitable mechanism for supporting scheduled air services. From an airline perspective, a Public Service Obligation (PSO) support is deemed the most suitable and state aid compliant mechanism. PSO would provide certainty in terms of viability to the airline. Analysis evaluates the level of subvention required would be in the order of £450k per annum.
Existing inter-regional air services supported through PSO include Barra, Campbeltown and Tiree (all to Glasgow). These services use aircraft owned by HIAL (aircraft registrations G-HIAL and G-SGTS) and operated on their behalf by Loganair.
There are a number of activities that need to be undertaken in order to progress the scheme. These tasks include: Aerodrome Survey; Engagement with Civil Aviation Authority (Airspace Changes/ Airport ground infrastructure/ Regulatory, compliance and licencing issues); Engagement with airlines; Engagement with Planning Authority; Preparation of detailed design (Ground); and Preparation of detailed ‘Operational Plan’.
Chair of the Council’s EDI Committee Councillor Allan Henderson said: “The local working group has taken this work as far as it can and it shows that a service can be introduced at reasonable cost in comparison with other airports in the HIAL network. It’s time now for the Scottish Government to assist us in delivering a pilot service between Skye and Glasgow.”
Ranald Robertson, HITRANS Partnership Director added: “The recent technical work we have undertaken in the last 12 months with the invaluable input from HIAL’s team has identified that a trial service is a proportionate way for testing the demand for re-re-establishing air services between Skye and the central belt that involves utilising and upgrading the existing airstrip at Ashaig. Residents of Skye and Lochalsh have amongst the longest journey times to Glasgow and Edinburgh of any regional centre in Scotland and this modest investment would enable Skye to capitalise on economic opportunities that it has missed out on as a result of the time it takes to get there and the inability to do a day return either to / from Skye.”
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