Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Sky, Lochaber and Badenoch, urged Transport Minister Keith Brown to look into the restoration of commercial flight services offered to the Isle of Skye.

The Minister said on the floor of Parliament that he would be more than happy to meet with the Highland Council to discuss the possibility of restoring flights to Skye.

Mr Thompson would like to see the Scottish Government facilitate the reintroduction of scheduled services from Skye to the central belt, Inverness, Aberdeen, and elsewhere in Scotland.

Ashaig Airstrip, near the village of Broadford, is a fully functional landing ground for aircraft on Skye at the centre of the discussion.  The airstrip is currently used by NHS Highland and the Scottish Ambulance Service for transferring patients to hospitals in Inverness or Glasgow.

Mr Thompson said “A resumption of air services to Skye and Lochalsh would bring considerable economic benefits to the area, and deliver a welcome boost to tourism.

“The increase in flights would allow more people from Scotland and around the world to experience the beauty of the Western Highlands

He added, “I would welcome and urge the possible addition of scheduled commercial flights as being beneficial for Skye and the Western Highlands as a whole.

Commercial flights would create jobs for airport staff, car hires and other tourism related activities.

The Minister said he has not been approached by the Highland Council regarding the airstrip yet, but MSP Thompson remains optimistic that progress can be made.

The restoration of flight services to Skye will be discussed at the Highland Council Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee meeting next Thursday, 14th March in Inverness.

Notes:

Ashaig Airstrip was constructed by the Corps of Royal Engineers and opened in 1972 to serve as a gateway to the Isle of Skye.

From the time of its opening until 1988, Loganair operated a scheduled service from the airfield to Glasgow. Since their departure, there has not been a regular commercial service to the airstrip.