Eriskay Shop defies recession Page 3
Rescuing Bear from streets of Corfu Page 10
❄
❄
❄
❄❄
❄
Christmas ❄
❄
Markets ❄ and Fairs ❄ Page 17
island news Edition 09
November 2012
EE FR
& ADVERTISER
ISLES TO BENEFIT FROM OBAN AIR ROUTES INITIATIVE The Southern Isles stand to benefit from a new marketing drive by Oban Airport to seek additional routes to the Inner and Outer Hebrides.
Oban Airport is run by Argyll & Bute Council, and currently provides the Public Service Obligation (PSO) scheduled services to Coll, Colonsay and Tiree, along with commercial flights to Islay and Mull. The airport’s new marketing strategy seeks to bring together all the bodies operating PSOs on the west coast of Scotland, including Western Isles Council, to enhance those services; and also to develop additional commercial routes which could include Benbecula-Oban. Passenger numbers at Oban Airport grew by more than 30% in the past year. An Argyll & Bute council spokeswoman said: “We are keen to explore any mutual benefits that could be achieved from a more collaborative approach between Western Isles Council, Hitrans and Transport Scotland including aligning timetables so that PSO air services are viewed as a network rather than individual pockets of services.”
The spokeswoman said new routes like Benbecula-Oban and Oban – Glasgow would be considered if they were commercially viable without subsidy. She said: “The council would welcome discussions with any operator that wished to investigate new commercially viable air service routes. It is one of the key priorities of the marketing strategy.” Southern Isles businesses said a BenbeculaOban route had the potential to develop tourism and expand business links with Oban. Huw Francis, chief executive of Stòras Uibhist said: “Any additional links to the islands would be welcomed. For businesses with accountants and solicitors in Oban for example a quick hop over by plane would be preferable to seven and a half hours on the ferry, and it could work for Oban businesses too, enabling them to open offices in the Southern Isles. It would all depend on price and ticket flexibility. An onward flight to Edinburgh from Oban could be more useful than one to Glasgow as it would cut out an extra couple of hours travelling time.” Hotelier Allan Graham of Orasay Inn, South Uist said the idea of Oban as a hub to the Inner Hebrides suited him personally as he has family in Islay. He said: “It could benefit inter-island tourism, it would be worth a trial.” North Uist estate factor George MacDonald said: “Flights to and from Oban if quick and cheap enough could attract people in the Uists who would otherwise go to Stornoway.”
THE FREE MONTHLY NEWSPAPER OF THE HEBRIDES