New Air Link Opened to Access Scottish Mainland’s Northern Regions

A state-funded air link has opened to enable access to the Scottish mainland’s northern regions.

In conjunction with the Highland Council and Transport Scotland, Eastern Airways has begun flying from Wick John O’Groats airport to Aberdeen.

On weekdays and Sundays, the new service from the UK’s most northerly mainland airport will run up to twice daily each way.

The action restores regional connectivity between Caithness and Sutherland and Aberdeen’s major airport.

From 25th April, early morning Wick John O’Groats departures will be available on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

Flights have been scheduled to allow for connections with British Airways at Aberdeen and KLM at Amsterdam.

Wideroe and SAS give a Norwegian energy link, and easyJet provides leisure destinations via Gatwick and Luton, as well as holiday choices with Tui and Ryanair.

The Wick-Aberdeen route has fares starting at £39.99 one-way.

The chair of Visit Scotland, Lord John Thurso, said: “Connectivity is vital both for the business community in Caithness and for the visitor economy. This route offers excellent onward connectivity and helps open Caithness for visitors. Importantly it also helps secure the airport’s future.”

Adam Wheatley, managing director of Eastern Airways, added: “Helping develop vital regional connectivity is what Eastern Airways have done for 25 years, so yesterday’s inaugural service helped connect Caithness as one of the remotest mainland regions back into the hub airport of Aberdeen.

“This helps avoid one of the most distant surface transport journeys in Scotland and the wide array of onward connectivity available, in a low emission aircraft fits our belief in how sustainable aviation can meet the need of the UK economy and extensive connectivity into the future.”

Lorna Jack, chair of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), said: “This new scheduled flight is the reward for a lot of hard work by many individuals and organisations who built a compelling case for a PSO [public service obligation], and they are to be commended on the success of those efforts.

“HIAL has invested millions of pounds in recent years to ensure Caithness has a sustainable and viable aviation infrastructure and I am delighted we can once again welcome air passengers to and from the region.“