The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Contract agreed for air services
Subsidised air services from Oban to Coll, Colonsay and Tiree have been secured for the next four years after Argyll and Bute Council awarded a new contract to Hebridean Air.
It follows the announcement in May that an agreement had been reached with Hebridean Air Services Limited to continue to operate the flights on a temporary basis, while the council carried out a procurement process for a new four-year contract.
There had been concerns that services would be interrupted by strict funding legislation after an initial procurement process for the four-year contract failed to attract an acceptable bid.
However, council officers and staff at Hebridean Air worked hard behind the scenes to prevent that scenario and put a temporary contract in place.
The new, fouryear contract will continue on the same timetable as the interim contract.