---
title: "Provision of Air Services"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-06f050"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f050"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f050.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f050.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Planning"
buyer: "Argyll and Bute Council"
published: "2026-09-02"
---

# Provision of Air Services

Buyer: Argyll and Bute Council  
Current stage: Planning  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-06f050

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## Summary

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.

## Notice

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.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083024-2026 |
| 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 |
| All stages | Planning |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 2 Sep 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | 30 Nov 2026 |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | Not specified |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | £2,048,828 |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Planned |
| Lots status | Planned |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | Argyll and Bute Council |
| Locality | LOCHGILPHEAD |
| Postcode area | Paisley |
| Postcode | PA31 8RT |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM2 Highlands and Islands |
| ITL 3 | TLM20 Highlands and Islands |
| Local authority | Argyll and Bute |
| Electoral ward | Mid Argyll |
| Westminster constituency | Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber |
| Delivery location | TLM63 Lochaber, Skye and Lochalsh, Arran and Cumbrae, and Argyll and Bute |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 60 - Transport services (excl. Waste transport)

### Codes

- 60410000 - Scheduled air transport services

## Release History

- 2 Sep 2026 at 12:23 - Planning - Planning Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/083024-2026

## Notice URLs

- http://www.obanandtheislesairports.com/
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000841479
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=841479
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/Search_AuthProfile.aspx?ID=AA00063

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-06f050. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-06f050.json.