ARGYLL & BUTE COUNCIL , LORN AND THE ISLES AREA COMMITTEE

OPERATIONAL SERVICES 8 OCTOBER 2008

ARGYLL AIR SERVICES UPDATE

1. SUMMARY

The report provides an update in service provision in the Argyll Air Services Project, and also provides further detail on the scholar flight provision.

2. RECOMMENDATIONS

It is recommended that the Oban, Lorn and the Isles Area Committee notes the contents of this report.

3. DETAILS

The Argyll Air Services Project commenced on Monday 16 June 2008 with the first flight leaving Oban for and then on to . Up to the end of August 2008 a total of 471 passengers have been carried on the Argyll Air Services excluding scholar flights. The first two complete months, July and August, would indicate that just under 200 passengers per month have been carried. Around 135 passengers have been carried on the Coll/Tiree service from Oban with approximately 65 passengers being carried on the section.

Bookings continue to be healthy. 161 bookings were made in August to take the total number of bookings made to 509 since the service commenced in June. To date Highland Airways have provided figures for July and August 2008 with regard to the number of cancellations and delays to services, and out of 174 possible flights 125 flights have taken place. The reason for cancellations or delays have been due to a variety of different reasons including, no passengers to Coll on 7 occasions, and no passengers to Colonsay on 20 occasions, airport strikes accounted for a loss of 6 flights and weather conditions for the rest. It should be noted that the number of flights to Coll, Colonsay and Tiree cancelled due to “no passengers” is reducing thereby indicating that there is a bigger uptake in the service.

Scholar flights commenced on Friday 22 August with the first flight to Coll and we continue to take school pupils to Coll and Colonsay on a weekly basis.

There are ongoing discussions with Highland Airways on improved marketing for this service and also reviewing the issue of scholar flights with a view to extend this 1

to two flights per weekend to service both Coll and Colonsay. We await details from Highland Airways on this matter and will advise the Area Committee in due course of any developments where appropriate.

The air service from Oban to Coll, Colonsay and Tiree is carried on a Public Service Obligation basis, which in effect means it is subsidised by the Scottish Government. Flights are operated by Highland Airways and tickets for these flights can be purchased from their website by www.highlandairways.co.uk . In common with other airline service providers there is a “low fare finder” button on the website and it is possible for passengers to acquire significant reductions on flights when these flights are booked in advance.

4. IMPLICATIONS

4.1 Policy Aerodromes at Coll, Colonsay and Oban have achieved licensed status and any development works have to meet the requirements of the Civil Aviation Authority.

4.2 Financial Highland Airways are running the operation as a Public Service Obligation which is subsidised in part by the Scottish Government.

4.3 Personnel None

4.4 Equalities Impact None Assessment

4.5 Legal None

For further information, please contact Stewart Turner, Head of Roads and Amenity Services (01546 604611).

Stewart Turner Head of Roads & Amenity Services 17 September 2008

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