News / Visitor air fares to increase to lessen impact on locals
SHETLAND Islands Council will introduce significant fare increases for inter-island flights for visitors to reduce the impact on locals, according to transport committee chairman Ryan Thomson.
The price of all inter-island flights, which run from Tingwall Airport by Airtask on behalf of Shetland Islands Council, are set to rise in the next financial year – with many in line to go up by five per cent.
But tickets for non-residents are set to jump sharply, with a return fare to Papa Stour for a non-resident child rising some 48 per cent from £24.40 to £36.20.
The adult fare for the same Papa Stour return route, though, is only set to rise by five per cent – less than £3.50.
Non-resident child trips to Foula are set to rise by around 25 per cent, while flights to Fair Isle for visiting adults on the once-a-week service from Sumburgh Airport could go up by 10 per cent.
Thomson, who is also chairman of local transport body ZetTrans, said the council has tried to ensure locals are affected the least from price rises.
“The council has a policy to increase fares in line with inflation,” he said.
“This has happened with ferries but the fares on inter-island air services have remained the same for a while now. The increase is larger for non-residents simply so the impact on residents isn’t so significant.”
Other increases include 7.2 per cent increases on return trips for islanders on Fair Isle and Foula aged between 2-11, or a pupil attending Anderson High School.
The lowest price rise is 1.41 per cent on island resident return flights to Fair Isle for adults – an increase of just 60p.
When asked about the large increases for non-resident child fares, Thomson said something had to give after fares remained static in previous years.
He added that people visiting islands like Papa Stour largely tend to go by ferry.
“Cost implications combined with inflation unfortunately require a price increase. A price freeze on internal air travel again next year, like it has been for a while now, was simply not possible,” Thomson said.
“I don’t think a fare increase will have any impact on visitors to islands. Statistically the vast majority of those travelling to Papa Stour for example do so via the ferry, during the summer months in particular.”
The air fares – which have been approved by councillors – are subject to further appraisal by ZetTrans, which is due to meet next week.
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