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Provision of Air Services

Argyll and Bute Council

This public procurement record has 1 release in its history.

Planning

02 Sep 2026 at 12:23

Planning Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Argyll and Bute Council intends to procure scheduled passenger air services linking Oban with the islands of Coll, Colonsay and Tiree. The service will provide an essential transport link for island communities, supporting access to healthcare, education, employment, business, public services and tourism. The appointed operator will design, operate, promote and manage the routes, including passenger booking arrangements, scholar travel provision, performance monitoring and reporting. This is a passenger aviation services contract delivered across the Argyll and Bute area, between Oban and the three islands. The Council will support operations through airport facilities, office accommodation at Oban Airport, and waivers of public service obligation landing and passenger fees at Council-operated airports.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Council has issued advance market awareness information and has not yet invited tenders. It expects to use an output-based approach, allowing operators to propose the aircraft, timetable, seasonal service variations, fares, marketing and route development within the available subsidy. The expected contract start date is 16 September 2027, with a four-year term. Funding is a fixed subsidy of around £512,207 per year, with an estimated total subsidy of £2,048,828 over the contract period; the operator must deliver the services within that subsidy. The Council expects to publish the contract notice and tender documents on 30 November 2026.

The procurement is likely to suit established scheduled air service operators able to run reliable passenger routes to island airports and manage the complete service rather than provide aircraft or crews alone. Potential participants should be prepared to develop an operating model, select suitable aircraft, set timetables and fares, manage bookings, promote and grow demand, and maintain resilience and reliability. The contract will also require provision for scholar travel, performance monitoring, reporting to the Council and day-to-day service management. Operators should consider how they would meet the transport needs of dispersed island communities while working within a fixed subsidy. The Council’s airport facilities, fee waivers and Oban Airport accommodation may assist operational planning when the procurement reaches the tender stage.

How relevant is this notice?

Notice Information

Notice Title

Provision of Air Services

Notice Description

Argyll and Bute Council intends to procure a four-year contract for the provision of scheduled passenger air services between Oban, Coll, Colonsay and Tiree. The contract is expected to commence on 16 September 2027 and will be supported by a fixed annual subsidy. The successful operator will be responsible for the design, operation and marketing of the service and associated reporting requirements.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Argyll and Bute Council is providing advance notice of its intention to procure a contract for the operation of scheduled passenger air services between Oban and the islands of Coll, Colonsay and Tiree. The contract is expected to commence on 16 September 2027 and continue for a period of four years. The service is supported through a fixed annual subsidy and forms an essential transport link for island communities, providing access to healthcare, education, employment, business, public services and tourism opportunities. The Council intends to adopt an output-based approach and encourages operators to develop innovative proposals. Tenderers will be free to determine, within the available subsidy, their proposed aircraft type, service timetable, seasonal variations, fare structure, marketing strategy and route development initiatives. The successful operator will be responsible for the design, operation, promotion and management of the air services, including scholar travel provision, passenger booking arrangements, performance monitoring and reporting. The Council will provide support including a fixed subsidy, waiver of PSO landing and passenger fees at Council-operated airports, office accommodation at Oban Airport and access to airport facilities required for operation of the services. The Council anticipates publishing a contract notice and tender documentation at a later date and is issuing this Prior Information Notice to raise market awareness and encourage engagement from suitably qualified air service operators.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-06f050
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083024-2026
Current Stage
Planning
All Stages
Planning

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
Planning Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Not Specified
Procurement Method Details
Not specified
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Not specified

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

CPV Codes

60410000 - Scheduled air transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£2,048,828 £1M-£10M
Lots Value
Not specified
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
Not specified

Notice Dates

Publication Date
2 Sep 20261 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
Not specified
Future Notice Date
30 Nov 20263 months to go
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
Not specified - Not specified
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Planned
Lots Status
Planned
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Not Specified

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Argyll and Bute 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
LOCHGILPHEAD
Postcode
PA31 8RT
Postcode Area
Paisley
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
TLM63 Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae, and Argyll and Bute
Local Authority
Argyll and Bute
Electoral Ward
Mid Argyll
Westminster Constituency
Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber

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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