4 March 2005
The operator of Oban Airport has lodged a formal objection over council plans to transfer the running of the airfield to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.
The airport is owned by the local council (Argyll & Bute), but operated by Paul Keegan (Total Logistics Concepts). Paul offers a 24/7 service, 365 days a year.
He claims the council has not consulted with local flying clubs and users, or the wider visiting GA community.
Oban was voted FLYER Airport of The Year in 2002. Movements have risen from 50 in 1995 to more than 1,900 in 2004.
Argyll & Bute council is currently seeking Scottish Executive funding to allow a proposed new Argyll scheduled air service – which would be put out to tender – to provide isolated island communities with daily flights to Oban and Glasgow.
Paul Keegan argues that the scheduled services plan is ill thought-out and that a charter service, to serve many island communities, could start almost immediately.
For more see:
http://forums.flyer.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=12237
http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/newsroom/features/obanairport?a=0
