Have your say on island air services

Islanders are being encouraged to take an online questionnaire aimed at indentifying what’s important for an air service.

The survey, at http://bit.ly/IslandsAirSurvey, is open until the 3rd January and aims to pinpoint how islanders and visitors use the current air services with the mainland. The “quick five minute survey” will identify areas of importance and give air users the chance to share their experiences and outline any changes they would like to see.

ZetTrans chairman and Shetland Islands Council’s chairman of environment and transport Michael Stout said: “For those living in our island communities we all have experience either directly or indirectly of our air services and the impact they have. I welcome this survey being undertaken and would hope that those who live, work, and visit here would all make their voices heard as part of this work.

“As councils we’re committed to working to strengthen our transport connectivity and I hope that this survey will provide some additional evidence to support our work for communities across the isles.”

Mr Stout’s counterpart in the Highlands and Islands area, Hitrans chairman and Orkney councillor James Stockan said: “The vitality and economic prosperity of our island communities relies on strong transport connectivity and this survey will play a part in better understanding the role of our air links and what steps could be taken to ensure that they meet the needs of both islanders and visitors.

“I would encourage everyone to take part in this quick online survey which will help inform the work of all the partners involved by identifying issues and opportunities for our air links.
Scottish Council for Development and Industry regional director Fraser Grieve said his organisation was pleased to be working with the regions’ transport partnerships Hitrans and ZetTrans, along with the local authorities on this “important work in identifying issues and opportunities with our air links”.

He added: “Air connectivity is of huge importance to the economic success of the region, supporting every sector of the economy and sustaining jobs in some of our most peripheral communities. I hope that we receive a strong response from air service users and that as many as possible complete this survey at before it closes on the 3rd January.”