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North Scotland/Wick John O'Groats Airport PSO Scheduled Flight Services

The Highland Council

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

02 Sep 2026 at 15:13

Award Notice
Tender

16 Dec 2025 at 10:00

Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Highland Council procured scheduled air passenger services linking Wick John O’Groats Airport with Aberdeen and Edinburgh airports. The service is intended to maintain and improve access to the north of Scotland for travellers, businesses and local communities, while supporting the area’s visibility and economic activity. The operator is expected to work collaboratively with the Council, including through regular contract management meetings and clear communication arrangements. The requirement is for air transport services, covering comprehensive timetable and frequency options that can be adjusted to demonstrable demand without a further procurement. Suppliers need to be able to operate the proposed routes and aircraft and provide appropriate operating licences and accreditations. The service also requires an environmental policy aligned with government guidance, objectives and targets.

This procurement used an open procedure and has reached the award stage. Air Charter Scotland Ltd was selected as the supplier, following one bid, which was submitted electronically. The contract was signed on 29 July 2026 and has a value of £7,956,000. The contracted service period is 720 days, with an option to extend for up to a further 24 months. The tender deadline was 16 February 2026 at 12:00 UTC; evaluation began on the same date and bids were opened then. The single lot covered the Wick John O’Groats–Aberdeen and Wick John O’Groats–Edinburgh service. Evaluation allocated 60% to price and 40% to quality. Tenderers could submit compliant variant proposals, and a document access fee applied.

This award shows a requirement for a specialist scheduled air operator able to provide passenger services from a regional Scottish airport to Aberdeen and Edinburgh, with the operational capability to vary timetables and frequencies in response to demand. A credible competitor would need the licences and aviation accreditations required for the routes and the aircraft proposed, together with the financial and operational capacity to sustain a collaborative, contract-managed service. The buyer places material weight on quality as well as price, so evidence of reliable service delivery, timetable flexibility, stakeholder communication and effective contract management would matter. Suppliers should also be able to demonstrate an environmental policy aligned with government objectives and targets. The presence of one bid indicates a focused market requiring relevant aviation capability rather than general transport experience.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

North Scotland/Wick John O'Groats Airport PSO Scheduled Flight Services

Notice Description

THC is in discussions with Transport Scotland regarding subsidy provision for this service to help encourage airlines to offer their services and work in collaboration with THC to achieve these benefits. THC consider that continuing air services between Wick John O'Groats Airport (WIC) and Aberdeen (ABZ) and expanding these to include Edinburgh (EDI) shall enhance the visibility of the area and help stimulate the economy to ensure that the north of Scotland remains accessible and desirable for travellers, business people and the local community alike. THC consider that an expanded air service will be an exciting and prosperous venture. THC are therefore looking for equally enthusiastic air service operator(s) to work with the Council in making these positive outcomes a reality and are welcoming tenders on this basis.

Lot Information

Lot 1

A scheduled air passenger service between Wick John O'Groats Airport and both Aberdeen and Edinburgh Airports. Tenderers shall be able to price a range of comprehensive timetabling and frequency options, so that the services can be flexed according to demonstrable demand, without the need to re-tender. The Highland Council intend to work closely with the air operator throughout the life of the Contract to ensure successful delivery. To that end, there shall be clear communication channels established and regular contract management meetings to help reinforce the collaborated approach.

Renewal: An extension for a period of up to 24 Months is possible.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-05f648
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083133-2026
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Award Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60400000 - Air transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
Not specified
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£7,956,000 £1M-£10M

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 months ago
Submission Deadline
16 Feb 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
December 2029

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Cancelled
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
The Highland Council
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
INVERNESS
Postcode
IV3 5NX
Postcode Area
Inverness
Country
Scotland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLM Scotland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLM2 Highlands and Islands
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLM20 Highlands and Islands
Delivery Location
TLM50 Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire, TLM6 Highlands and Islands, TLM75 City of Edinburgh
Local Authority
Highland
Electoral Ward
Inverness West
Westminster Constituency
Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

Air Charter Scotland Ltd

Further Information

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

View full OCDS Record for this contracting process

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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