Airlines asked to tender for lifeline Wick flights - BBC News

What airlines are credible for this ? Just AirTask, Eastern and Loganair ? Anybody else ?

The tender period for bids to fly at Wick closed last week on Thurs 02 Dec. Anyone know if there was at least 1 suitable bid, and when an announcement of the winner is likely to be ?

https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT429822

Well, the deadline for the submission of tenders was extended twice with somewhat strange explanations, if that is an indication...

…would suggest noone is interested.
Perhaps seasonal only would work when tourists can boost the otherwise low business/local numbers, which were in decline. Was a dire grim place last time I was there. Even the JOG tourist landmark area was run down and areas boarded up and closed. That was way before covid. Can’t see much investment going there.

Suggest VV is right when I saw the previous post referencing Storm Arwen. Looks like Wick's future is as a fuel stop for light aircraft en route to & from the N. Atlantic. If only someone could have incorporated WIC into the NC500 circuit & yes - developed JoG!

Does anyone know what the aircraft and frequency requirement(s) are for the contract as it doesn't state these even on the Full Notice Text?

Is this information confidential and only accessible to potential bidders?

Highly unlikely Wick will be left as just a fuel stop, albeit the main reason will be political. However there is a market with the general public if the times and prices are right. A daily service to both Edinburgh and Aberdeen hopefully will transpire, perhaps twice a day. Loganair, Eastern, Flybe, Emerald Airlines and Wideroe possible candidates I’d think. Best of luck to them.

cant see Wideroe, FlyBe2 or Emerald going anywhere near it

If they can’t get tenders for a PSO route then they have no chance. Wideroe and Emerald are very wishful thinking. Out of those maybe you’d get Loganair with a twin otter or Eastern with a J41. I can’t see anything else realistically.

I'm old enough to remember the days of BA on a leased Gulfstream 1 or a Gill SD330 on ABZ/WIC/ABZ... changed days indeed. Can't recall if Air Ecosse ever flew it. Struggle to get a C152 now on it!!

Neither Wideroe nor Emerald (at this stage) have a UK Operating Licence and AOC, so neither has the traffic rights to fly domestically within the UK. They'd be ruled out of bidding for the PSO on that basis alone.

Flybe with a Q400 has to be fanciful at best.

Unless Airtask have come up with something - and it's difficult to see what - then it looks like a straight Eastern J41 v Loganair 340 contest is the most likely.

I'm old enough to remember flying from Wick to Kirkwall on a DC3!

Seriously though any essential users are going to want a early flight to either Aberdeen or Edinburgh and a late flight back. That means either a based aircraft (no chance,) or putting a Wick call into a flight from/to Kirkwall.

AirTask have an aircraft (admittedly rather small) based in Oban, which is hardly a great metropolis.
What would be needed to make Wick a single aircraft base for these routes ?
Significantly more PSO cash ? Stronger engineering support ? Better navaids ? Anything else ?

I realise Wick is not exactly EDI... but my question is asked in genuine curiosity

The Airtask plane is, I believe, based at Cumbernauld and flies up and back every day. The Council (not government ) subsidy is huge - £220 per ticket.

Having worked for Loganair when they ran this route from Edinburgh, the loads were very woeful then at times hence why it went, I'd have a feeling not even with the funding they would be that interested.

That kind of PSO would be best suited to an outfit like AIS Airlines that has operated various PSOs across Europe with Jetstream 31s. They are pretty much a flight school with an attached airline that serves as a launching pad for their students. i(I guess should it ever come to crewing a Wick base, they would need to resort to drawing straws)..

PS I might be a little biased as far as WIC is concerned. My elaborated plan to log WIC as one of the few remaining UK airports I have not travelled from ended up in a Loganair minivan driving me down to INV at breakneck speed (and that was the day after Loganair had to cancel various intra-Orkney flights I was booked on). 'Nuff said...

AIS Airlines would also not be permitted to bid for it because it's a UK route and EU-based airlines are no longer allowed to operate domestically within the UK due to Brexit; I do agree though that a Dornier Do-228, BAe Jetstream 31 or DHC-6 Twin Otter would likely be the most suitable aircraft.

None of which are particularly efficient and how old are the newest J31s?
Double drops might be feasible or triangle routes. Something might be better than nothing, but don’t see this coming to much or with any longevity

Not altogether obvious why Kirkwall passengers would want a stop at Wick on the way to Aberdeen when there are already enough of them to keep the flight busy.