The possibility of expanding the runway at Oban Airport and operating flights to the central belt is being explored.
Argyll and Bute Council, owner of the airfield at North Connel, is looking into the possibilities of increasing the services, where it already provides scheduled flights to the islands.
Councillor Roddy McCuish, Policy Lead for Roads and Amenity Services, said: “I am delighted that the council is looking for opportunities to expand the capacity of Oban Airport. This can only be good for Oban Lorn and the Isles and Argyll and Bute as a whole.
“I think a link to the central belt from Oban would open up tremendous business opportunities, both private and public.”
A council spokesman confirmed: “We have a long-standing ambition to deliver scheduled air links from Oban Airport to the central belt.
“Recent studies by Highland and Island Enterprise has shown this has the potential to bring substantial economic benefits to the local economy. There are no immediate plans to expand the airport. This project is in its early stages and we are looking at to explore options for the future of Oban Airport.”
A prior information notice has been published on the Scottish Public Contracts website by the council, stating that it wishes to explore the benefits of expansion of the airfield.
The notice states it particularly wishes to look into the possibility of extending the runway.
The current runway is a category two with a declared length of 0.74 miles.
With The Falls of Lora are located at the southern end, options for extension of the runway only exist at the northern end.
A residential caravan park is slightly less than 2,000ft from the current northern runway threshold, while the peak of Beinn Lora is located 1.3 miles to the north-east.
The first option to be considered would be expansion without impacting on the caravan park or any other existing land uses and roads.
Another option is expansion assuming the council could purchase any land required and re-route public roads.
The successful bidder will be asked to clarify the impacts of increasing the length of the runway and highlight any changes required to the airport that increasing the runway length would bring.
The contractor will be asked to identify any increase in the range, types or size of aircraft which could access the airport, with a particular focus on passenger aircraft.
Should increased aircraft sizes be able to be operated, they should say if the increased size of aircraft would require any changes in the operation of the airport, which does not currently have any security screening facilities.
The council estimates that it will publish a contract seeking a company to look into the possibilities on Monday June 26.
