New Scottish Islands air service takes off
17.06.08
The first scheduled flights from Oban Airport to some of Argyll's most remote islands took to the air yesterday morning, the Press & Journal reports. The start of the long-awaited service will see flights from Oban to either Coll, Colonsay or Tiree on a daily basis.
The £8.5million project by Argyll and Bute Council has involved upgrades at Oban Airport and North Connel, and the construction of new runways on Coll and Colonsay. But it has been marred by controversy since it got under way 5 years ago. It has been described as a lifeline service by some – and a waste of public funds by others.
Speaking as he watched the nine-seater Britten Norman Islander 2 leave for Coll yesterday, councillor Duncan MacIntyre, the council's transportation spokesman, told the newspaper: ‘Today is a very special day. The service will be another lifeline transport link to these outlying islands. As well as paving the way ahead for expansion of services throughout Argyll and Bute and counteracting population decline, the development of Argyll Air Services will also see school pupils on the islands of Coll and Colonsay travelling home at weekends for a nominal £1 fare.’
The flights will be provided by Highland Airways which, following competitive tendering, was chosen as the preferred bidder in July last year. The service will cost £900,000 to run over 3 years.
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