---
title: "Provision of Air Services"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000841479"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000841479"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000841479.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000841479.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
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-r6ebe6-0000841479

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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. This is a passenger air transport service (CPV 60410000) serving communities across the Argyll and Bute area. The service is intended to provide an essential transport link for access to healthcare, education, employment, business, public services and tourism. The appointed operator will design, operate, promote and manage the routes, including passenger bookings, scholar travel, performance monitoring and reporting. Council support is expected to include access to airport facilities, office accommodation at Oban Airport, and the waiver of public-service-obligation landing and passenger fees at Council-operated airports. The contract will use an output-based approach, allowing operators to propose how the service should be delivered.

This procurement is at the planning stage: the Council has announced its intention to procure and is seeking market awareness and engagement, rather than inviting bids. It expects to use an output-based approach for one contract, with operators determining their aircraft type, timetable, seasonal variations, fares, marketing and route development within the available subsidy. The planned contract is for four years, expected to start on 16 September 2027. It will have a fixed subsidy of around £512,207 per year, with an estimated total value of £2,048,828 over the contract period. The Council anticipates publishing the contract notice and tender documents on 30 November 2026. The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement.

This will suit an established air service operator able to design and run scheduled island routes, manage aircraft and airport operations, and provide dependable passenger services in a geographically challenging setting. Relevant preparation should include options for aircraft selection, timetabling, seasonal capacity, fare structures and service development. The Council is looking for proposals that demonstrate resilience and reliability, effective marketing and growth of the service, and sound performance monitoring and reporting. Suppliers should also be ready to manage passenger booking arrangements and meet scholar travel requirements. Operators able to balance these operational responsibilities with community connectivity and innovative, output-focused service design are likely to be well placed when the procurement reaches the market.

## 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 | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP563632 |
| Notice type | OJEU - F1 - Prior Information 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 01:00 - Planning - OJEU - F1 - Prior Information Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP563632

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=SEP563632&idx=1
  4th September 2026 - Airport Information
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=SEP563632
  Provision of Air Services - 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.

## Notice URLs

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

## 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-r6ebe6-0000841479. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000841479.json.