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 ?