Flights Could Return To Skye Next Year

In what is being called an enormous economic boost, commercial flights to and from the Isle of Skye could be started as early as next year. It is some twenty five years since the last flights ceased when Loganair flew out of the island's Highland Council-owned Ashaig Airfield, near Broadford.

The likelihood of resuming flights has been closely investigated by the local council, the transport body Hitrans, and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Having described the possibility of the resumption as being an “enormous” economic boost, businessman Ian Blackford, a member of FlySkye, went on to say, “I think for tourism, for business, for leisure, and for the people who live here, we really need to be able to connect to the central belt and beyond.

"That is something that is very difficult to do today if you live on Skye. To get to Glasgow by car it takes you in excess of five hours."

The length and width of the runway appeared to be a key to the matter, as resuming commercial flights would only need investment of between £2.3m and £2.8m if current circumstances met with the Civil Aviation Authority's approval. Higher figures of up to £15.3m had been mentioned otherwise, according to a feasibility study published in March.

Ancillary works needed agreement with the Department for Transport on Capital expenditure matters, such as security fencing, airline operators on hangars and the fire service on what facilities it would require.

Other agreements would also have to be reached about matters such as the airstrip meeting certain standards on runways, such as length and width as well as requirements on runway end safety areas.

The Skye Air Services Feasibility Study that was published in March had looked at what would be needed before scheduled services could resume.

                                                                http://www.skye.co.uk/