Campbeltown to miss out on air service improvements

The next contract to operate the Scottish Government-supported air services from Glasgow to Campbeltown, Barra and Tiree will include a series of improvements for the latter two but none for Kintyre.

 

The invitation to tender for the contract, which will run for four years from October 25 2023, has been published.

 

It includes the following new measures to improve services to the islands: a residents' fare for the air services to and from Barra and Tiree, which will also be available to residents on Coll; a larger community bank of rotations for the Barra service to help capacity at busy times of year; the extension of medical seat reservations to the Tiree service, following a successful introduction on the Barra flights.

 

“These flights provide our remote and island communities with vital connectivity, making it quick and easy to go to medical appointments, travel for work or see friends and family," said Transport Minister Kevin Stewart.

 

“I’m pleased to announce the Scottish Government will support them for another four years, as well as bring in new measures to improve the services for the people that depend on them.

 

“I look forward to these improvements coming into effect when the new contract is awarded later this year.”

 

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), which currently operates flights to and from Campbeltown Airport, has reported a 38.7 per cent year-on-year increase in passenger numbers for 2022/23, with the figures now approaching pre-pandemic levels.

 

The 12 months to March 2023 saw almost 1.5 million people use the 11 regional airports in the HIAL network, which equates to 85 per cent of the figures being recorded before the Covid-19 outbreak and the subsequent travel restrictions.

 

Passenger figures at Campbeltown rose by 40.8 per cent to 6,712.

 

HIAL managing director, Inglis Lyon, said the increases were a testament to the work and commitment of staff across the organisation to get the airports back to the levels they were operating at before the Covid-19 pandemic.