Loganair will continue as operator of the Orkney Inter-Isles Air Services for a further four years following the award of a new Public Service Obligation (PSO) contract by Orkney Islands Council.

The airline, which pioneered the services in conjunction with the then Orkney Islands Shipping Company in 1967, has continually maintained the lifeline air links connecting the islands of North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Westray, Sanday, Stronsay and Eday with Kirkwall ever since. It bases two Britten-Norman Islander aircraft at Kirkwall to fly the routes, carrying around 20,000 customers every year.

Although the world’s shortest scheduled flight – two minutes between Westray and Papa Westray – is one of the islands’ tourist attractions in its own right, the services fulfil a year-round critical role in the delivery of education, healthcare, mail and other essential services to Orkney’s North Isles. Inter-island flights became bookable on-line for the first time in 2019.

The new contract, won following a competitive tender process, will run for four years from 1 April 2021, securing the employment of 10 pilots, engineers and ground staff dedicated to the services at Loganair’s Kirkwall base. Loganair has recruited and trained engineers locally to take over from retiring long-serving members of its team and is committed to continuing this policy of local investment in Orkney wherever it possibly can.

During the new contract, Loganair fully expects to convert the aircraft to use low-carbon propulsion to replace the same type of conventional piston engine which has powered the services for over 50 years. Loganair is a key participant in several projects to bring low or zero-carbon technology to commercial air transport and will be supporting flight trials of two separate programmes - hydrogen-powered and electrically-powered aircraft - at its base in the Orkney Islands in the first half of 2021.

It is the only UK regional airline invited to participate in the UK Government’s Jet Zero Council initiatives to de-carbonise future air travel.