Oban and Argyll islands air link to go ahead after years of delays

‘Lifeline’ service hoped to be up and running before school holidays

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Scheduled air services could be running between Oban and the Argyll islands within weeks, it emerged yesterday after the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that its inspectors have recommended the airports are licensed.

Argyll and Bute Council’s £9million Argyll Air Services project has been marred by controversy and delays since it got under way five years ago. It has been described as a lifeline service by some – and a waste of public funds by others. But after visits last week, inspectors from the Civil Aviation Authority have recommended licensing Coll, Colonsay and Oban airports.

A spokeswoman said: “The CAA is in the final stages of the licensing process but it hasn’t actually been issued yet.”

And last night the chairman of Oban, Lorn and the Isles area committee revealed that services could be up and running as early as June 2.

Councillor Duncan MacIntyre said: “I am absolutely delighted. It has been a long haul. It has needed a lot of resilience and patience.

“We are looking for early June, either the second or the ninth. We want to get it up and running before the school pupils go off on their summer holidays.”

The service will provide air links from Oban Airport at North Connel to Coll, Colonsay and Tiree.

The project has involved upgrading at Oban and building new runways on Coll and Colonsay.

Flights will operate on days when there are no ferry services during winter months, with a similar frequency during the summer.

There will also be flights on Fridays and Sundays to allow children being educated at Oban the chance to get home for weekends, for a nominal fee of £1 set by the council. Councillor Donald McIntosh, Oban South and the Isles, said: “I am absolutely delighted. This is wonderful for the islanders. It means that if a ferry can’t get in because of bad weather, they can get a plane in and it provides another lifeline for them.

“It also means the children will be able to get home at weekends during the winter, when previously they would have had to stay at the hostel in Oban. It will make a huge difference to them.”

Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie McGrigor said: “Good transport links between islands and the mainland are a priority.

“It will be interesting to see how the price of airline ticket to Colonsay compares to the ferry service which of course will not be getting Road Equivalent Tariff to that island."

Harry Powell, of Connel Community Council, said: “We see the airport as being a highly desirable development, to underpin the economy of the area.”

A spokeswoman for Agyll and Bute Council said: “The council is still in discussions with the CAA and everything looks very positive. However, no airport has yet been licensed.”