A north MP has called for Westminster to help support moves to reinstate a passenger service between Skye and the north-west Highlands, and the outside world.
Speaking in a Westminster Hall transport debate on Wednesday, Ian Blackford, MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber, said:
“In the 1930s, it was possible to fly from Skye from either Skeabost or Glenbrittle, as indeed my wife’s grandmother did. Today, we have no regular air link to Skye, although we have a perfectly accessible runway at Broadford.
“We need regular passenger services to be resumed to benefit local communities, tourists and businesses. An economic assessment is taking place on re-establishing air links, and although it will go to the Scottish Government in the first instance, I ask the Government in London to do what they can to ensure that Skye and the western highlands are connected to the outside world. There is much debate about an additional runway for London. I want just one functioning runway for Skye and the north-west coast of my country.”
Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) commissioned independent consultancy to carry out the study into reinstating an air service from Skye and they have recently been seeking input from businesses, social enterprises and community groups on the potential economic benefits to the region.