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.
Read more: Humberside lands first ever Newquay flight as Eastern brings holiday route home
Eastern, based at Humberside Airport, has a significant presence at Aberdeen, 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.
“Helping develop vital regional connectivity is what Eastern Airways has done for 25 years. 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.
“We welcome the positive engagement shown by all stakeholders and partners to bring this Wick John O’Groats to Aberdeen air service back.”
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 hops, and leisure options via Gatwick and Luton.
It will operate up to twice daily each way on weekdays and Sundays, including early morning Wick John O’Groats departures on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from April 25.
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited 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.”
It comes just months after Eastern was awarded the contract to connect Newquay and Gatwick.
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