Maybe a W route, EDI/ABZ-KOI-WIC-KOI-EDI/ABZ ? :)
Flying time from WIC to KOI is not exactly long...

Keeps the Orkney folk happy, and lets the Wickers know how valued they are... :oh:

Pretty sure this wouldn’t be allowed on an PSO route, but never say never :-)

Given the passenger numbers further back I would of thought an average of 23 passengers on a 30 seat Saab to Edinburgh would be not too bad a load. 10 or so passengers on the Eastern flights to Aberdeen which is about right given the prices they used to charge !

Sure, that's why I said "like AIS Airlines". Realistically, if the UK keeps its PSO rules as they are, they will struggle to find anybody. The route obviously is only suited for a 20 seater operation - maybe a larger aircraft would work, but probably not for an airline operating at UK cost levels. It would require a cheaper Eastern European outfit like RAF Avia, Budapest Air Services, NyxAir or Transaviabaltika etc. They do quite a few PSOs in Sweden and Finland where there are no longer suitable local carriers.

Over recent times Loganair start and stop routes willy nilly. With Wick having been a solid base for decades I'm sure they can swallow their pride, carry out a PSO contract and serve the people of The North. (Even loganair aren't that daft and surely will be tempted with the dangling cash carrot)

I guess if anyone expressed interest in running flights from Wick there would be a press release of some sort. Given the closing date was 8 weeks ago it can't be looking good ? in fairness even Inverness is desperately quiet. how long does an airport continue without passengers ?

I have sent an email as per the details on the Public Contracts Scotland website asking for details of whether there were any suitable bids and the intended contract awarding under Freedom of Information law. I would encourage others to do the same to put a bit of pressure for transparency on Aberdeen City Council or Highland Council
As an aide-memoire, the public request for bids is at
https://www.publiccontractsscotland....x?ID=OCT429822

Freedom of Information law in Scotland is discussed at
https://www.itspublicknowledge.info/...gislation.aspx
https://www.aberdeenshire.gov.uk/med...requesters.pdf

Done a bit of digging - been told there was at least one bid, and an announcement will be made next week, probably Tuesday
I hope HIAL have booked a big enough conference room for all the journalists who will want to attend

It'll be live from outside the John O'Groats sign! :}

Contract evaluation to continue until second half of February. Public announcement might be made in February... or might be delayed further

Announcement now due on Monday 28 February, with first flight on Monday 04 April

Any Idea who has taken it on ?

It's Eastern Airways
 

Scheduled flights restart from Wick John O’ Groats Airport with year-round air link between Caithness and Aberdeen secured in new deal | The Highland Council

Oh dear. They managed to kill the route before, they now have even less operational aircraft. Can’t see this ending well.

At least the price is more sensible now

The price to the PAX or the price to the the taxpayer?

Ouch :8 From John O' Groat Journal: It will be funded by £1 million from Transport Scotland and £300,000 a year from Highland Council.

Flights start at £39.99 each way, with up to three per day. And a Sunday service. This is better than the previous service. A shame onward connectivity to say, BA is missing.

The contract for Wick-Edinburgh flights was not able to be awarded. It might be readvertised at a later date

There is an arguable need for the Aberdeen service as there will be some NHS patients who need to access services in Aberdeen which aren't available in Inverness. Not sure about Edinburgh.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

There wasn't even a press release from HIAL, although according to Twitter passengers were treated to free whisky from Old Pulteney.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0df1aaf56c.jpg

Whisky not Whiskey

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?

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

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

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....646caf7166.jpg

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

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.

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 ?