Eastern Airways has launched a new service connecting two of Britain’s most northerly mainland airports.
The regional airline will link Aberdeen with Wick John O’Groats, working in collaboration with The Highland Council and Transport Scotland on the subsidised route.
It launched after a public service obligation need was proven, and will operate up to twice daily services on weekdays and Sundays.
Eastern, based at Humberside Airport, also has a significant presence at Aberdeen Airport, with first flights established between the two energy clusters a quarter of a century ago.
Managing director Adam Wheatley said: “There has been a very warm and positive welcome from the Caithness community and those who have worked tremendously hard to see services restored and the culmination of their work.
“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.”
The schedule, for a flight taking just over half an hour, has been designed to provide maximum opportunity for domestic and international connections through Aberdeen, with Heathrow and Amsterdam direct onward flights, and leisure options via Gatwick and Luton.
It will operate early morning Wick John O’Groats departures on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 25 April.
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) chair Lorna Jack said: “This is the reward for a lot of hard work by many individuals and organisations who built a compelling case for a 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.”
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