Report highlights future sustainable opportunities for Wick John O’Groats Airport services
The Highland Council has today submitted the final output report of the Wick John O’Groats Airport Working Group to Transport Scotland.
This report highlights for the attention of Scottish Ministers a number of key opportunities for future sustainable delivery of services at Wick John O’Groats Airport, as well as opportunities for substantial economic growth in the North Highlands as a region over the coming decade.
The report also forms a key part of the Council’s commitment to reporting to Transport Scotland in support of the Wick-Aberdeen Public Service Obligation (PSO) and is the last remaining piece of information required by Scottish Ministers to enable them to make a decision with regards to a funding package for the PSO into 2025/26.
The Council has clearly restated in the report its own commitment to supporting scheduled air services from Wick, and now awaits confirmation from Scottish Government with regards to its own commitment.
Speaking about the submission of the report, Cllr Raymond Bremner, Chair of the Wick John O’Groats Airport Working Group, said:
“Continued support for scheduled services from Wick into financial year 2025/26 is vital to enabling the delivery of the opportunities highlighted in the report. We are all aware of the substantial economic opportunities that are on the cusp of being realised in the North Highlands, and of the vital role that the airport will play in enabling these, and continued support for scheduled services will give some short-term certainty to allow this vital work to progress.
“We are aware that this has been a challenging year for the Wick-Aberdeen service, and that this week’s unforeseen schedule change will no doubt have caused issue for some PSO customers and stakeholders. The Council remains committed to the future of Wick John O’Groats Airport and we will be working closely with Eastern Airways and PSO stakeholders over the coming days to ensure that we build a sustainable and deliverable service through to the end of 2025/26.”