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Lifeline Air Services Benbecula - Stornoway 3 August 2026 - 31 March 2028

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

This public procurement record has 2 releases in its history.

Award

14 Sep 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F3 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

12 Jun 2026 at 01:00

OJEU - F2 - Contract Notice
Summary of the contracting process

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar procured additional lifeline air services between Benbecula and Stornoway, to supplement the existing flight timetable. The requirement is a passenger air service rather than an aircraft, infrastructure or general transport support contract. Delivery is on the Benbecula–Stornoway route in the Western Isles, with the council as the buying organisation. The procurement covered one requirement for additional flights to the current schedule. It is relevant to airlines, aviation operators and specialist air-service providers able to operate reliable scheduled or additional passenger flights on this route and to meet the council’s service-quality requirements. The service is classified under CPV 60410000, covering scheduled air transport services.

The procurement is complete and has been awarded following an open procedure. One lot covered the additional flights. Bids were due by 13 July 2026 at 14:00, with evaluation beginning at that time; bids had to remain valid for 90 days and be submitted electronically in English. The estimated lot value was £333,333, while the active contract value is £287,500. DirectFlight was selected as supplier, and the contract was signed on 1 September 2026. The contract period runs from 3 August 2026 to 31 March 2028. Evaluation placed 90% of the weighting on quality and 10% on price. Variants were not allowed, and electronic payment and ordering apply, with electronic invoicing permitted.

This award shows that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar buys additional air capacity to strengthen an existing lifeline route, with service quality carrying substantially more weight than price. A credible competitor for a future requirement would therefore need to demonstrate robust airline or specialist air-transport capability, dependable operations on the Benbecula–Stornoway route, and the capacity to add flights without undermining the current schedule. Evidence of safe, resilient and passenger-focused delivery would be commercially important, as would a clear service plan showing how quality would be monitored and maintained. The award to an SME indicates that the requirement can be delivered by a focused smaller operator, provided it has the operational resources and aviation competence to meet the council’s needs.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

Lifeline Air Services Benbecula - Stornoway 3 August 2026 - 31 March 2028

Notice Description

Additional services to current schedule

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-r6ebe6-0000833649
Publication Source
Public Contracts Scotland
Latest Notice
https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP564466
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
OJEU - F3 - Contract 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

60410000 - Scheduled air transport services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£333,333 £100K-£500K
Lots Value
£333,333 £100K-£500K
Awards Value
Not specified
Contracts Value
£287,500 £100K-£500K

Notice Dates

Publication Date
14 Sep 20263 weeks ago
Submission Deadline
13 Jul 2026Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
Not specified
Contract Period
3 Aug 2026 - 31 Mar 2028 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Not Specified
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
STORNOWAY
Postcode
HS1 2BW
Postcode Area
Outer Hebrides
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
TLM64 Na h-Eileanan Siar
Local Authority
Na h-Eileanan Siar
Electoral Ward
Steòrnabhagh a Deas
Westminster Constituency
Na h-Eileanan an Iar

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
1
Supplier Name

DirectFlight

Further Information

Notice Documents

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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