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