Wick

[AirportPlanner1]

It would have to be a UK airline, or have a G reg, to be able to fly it.

[ATIS31]

Originally Posted by davidjohnson6

Eastern will be paid £ 4,296,449.00 for flying the Aberdeen-Wick route over 3 years. Any VAT (if it exists) is extra
Apart from Eastern, there was one other (unnamed) bidder - it was not from an EU member state, so the other bidder is presumably a UK airline
https://www.publiccontractsscotland....x?ID=MAR442915

Assuming 12 round trips per week, this comes to £1,150 of subsidy per one way flight

I thought it was £4 million over 4 years not 3 years ?

[davidjohnson6]

The original notice requesting bids can be found at:
https://www.publiccontractsscotland....x?ID=OCT429822
This mentions:
Duration in months: 36
This contract is subject to renewal: Yes
Description of renewals:
An extension for a period of up to 12 Months is possible.

Maybe it is 4 years...in which case the subsidy is £860 per one way flight

[Atlantic Explorer]

So is Eastern setting a local base again or using nightstopping crews?

[Fletch]

Originally Posted by Atlantic Explorer

So is Eastern setting a local base again or using nightstopping crews?

It looks like it's done with an Aberdeen based aircraft flying ABZ-WIC-ABC so i'm guessing neither. A shame for the crew as the food in Mackays Hotel was very good.

[jmdavies86]

Originally Posted by Fletch

It looks like it's done with an Aberdeen based aircraft flying ABZ-WIC-ABC...

Incorrect; the aircraft will be stationed overnight at WIC from Sunday to Tuesday in order to provide an early morning flight to ABZ, departing at 7.20am.

[ScottishAviator]

Originally Posted by jmdavies86

Incorrect; the aircraft will be stationed overnight at WIC from Sunday to Tuesday in order to provide an early morning flight to ABZ, departing at 7.20am.

I assume you meant Sunday to Thursday

[LGWAlan]

Originally Posted by ScottishAviator

I assume you meant Sunday to Thursday

Nope - Sunday to Tuesday - the 0720 T3 560 flight only operates Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday - the other days morning flight is 1040:

1 T3 560 123 WIC ABZ 0720 0800 0 25APR22 26OCT22 J41 0:40
2 T3 561 X67 WIC ABZ 1040 1120 0 18APR22 28OCT22 J41 0:40
3 T3 564 7 WIC ABZ 1550 1630 0 17APR22 23OCT22 J41 0:40
4 T3 568 345 WIC ABZ 1750 1830 0 27APR22 28OCT22 J41 0:40

1 T3 562 X67 ABZ WIC 0930 1010 0 18APR22 28OCT22 J41 0:40
2 T3 563 7 ABZ WIC 1440 1520 0 17APR22 23OCT22 J41 0:40
3 T3 567 X67 ABZ WIC 1640 1720 0 11APR22 28OCT22 J41 0:40
4 T3 567 7 ABZ WIC 1740 1820 0 01MAY22 23OCT22 J41 0:40

[Fletch]

Originally Posted by jmdavies86

Incorrect; the aircraft will be stationed overnight at WIC from Sunday to Tuesday in order to provide an early morning flight to ABZ, departing at 7.20am.

Apologies, I didn't really there was this variation in flights.

[Link Kilo]

Job going to "Manage, co-ordinate and support the new Wick John O Groats Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract, which is until 31 March 2025".

https://www.myjobscotland.gov.uk/cou...se-wick-266520

[davidjohnson6]

Has the cake been delivered, journalists coming for the press conference and fire service ready for a water salute ?

[SealinkBF]

There wasn't even a press release from HIAL, although according to Twitter passengers were treated to free whisky from Old Pulteney.

[Asturias56]

Whisky not Whiskey

[caSeSenSitive]

i often flew a couple of Plutomium rods from Dounray to Abington. Single pilot with only a BNFL policeman and his coffee flask sat on the one remaining seat at the back of a Bandit. Contract said to be at Dounray first thing , had to hang around in the middle of winter till 0930 when the office chaps/esses opened up. Director of BNFL then signed over the afore mentioned rods to a 22 year old to take charge of them flying single pilot down the spine of the UK… Guess that isn’t SOP now?

[SealinkBF]

Originally Posted by Asturias56

Whisky not Whiskey

You'd best tell the person who tweeted if you feel that strongly about it.

[SealinkBF]

Originally Posted by davidjohnson6

Has the cake been delivered, journalists coming for the press conference and fire service ready for a water salute ?

Looks like there was a water salute. From Twitter: (@WickSnapper)

[Richard Taylor]

Can't imagine there could have been many water salutes for a JE41 on a service f/t ABZ

[Link Kilo]

'Fight on our hands' to save Wick-Aberdeen flights, claim MSPs​​​

https://www.northern-times.co.uk/new...aim-ms-333981/

[CabinCrewe]

It needs GLA or EDI to try and make this work again.
Lovely area and nice little airport when I was last through.
Eastern maybe not my first choice of carrier.

[davidjohnson6]

Reading the news article, it sounds like Wick-Aberdeen flights will definitely operate until 31 March 2024... but no guarantee at all for April 2024. Is this a fair interpretation of the situation or have I made 2+2=5 ?