Hebrides News

 

 

 

Hebridean Air Services will take off on 12 April for their first scheduled flights between Stornoway and Benbecula.

The company will operate flights three days a week on Monday, Tuesday, and Friday.

The airline plans to launch its new booking system this weekend to allow travellers to purchase tickets.

Flights on the inter-island link under current provider, Loganair, stopped this afternoon (Thursday) as its official contract comes to an end.

That leaves a two week gap until Hebridean Air commence services.  

Loganair has been a long term operator of the Stornoway - Benbecula link, often being the sole bidder for a subsidy provided by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

But the service was reduced over the years due to rising costs.

Hebridean Air Services will operate an eight-passenger Britten Norman Islander aircraft on the link.

While considerably smaller than the Loganair plane, it is said to better suit the operational passenger loads.

One significant bonus point is it makes the route viable due to the decreased operating costs. 

The aircraft is a tried and trusted utility aircraft used throughout the world on a number of dedicated Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts where passenger numbers are lower due to smaller island populations.

Hebridean Air Services has been in existence for many years and was acquired by Airtask in 2016.

It operates scheduled service fights to the islands of Coll, Tiree, and Colonsay under an agreement with Argyll and Bute Council.

Airtask Group has a contract with Shetland Council for its inter-island plane service using two BN2B Islander aircraft.  

It currently operates ten aircraft, ranging from a DA42 to the BAE 146-301 atmospheric research planes.

The company flies two fisheries patrol aircraft out of Inverness on behalf of the Scottish Government.

They also operate Cessna 406 planes from Benbecula Airport when required for missile firing range clearance duties around the South Uist rocket range.  

 

 

Date confirmed for Hebridean Air Services take-off on new Benbecula - Stornoway plane service  

 

28 March 2024