The Value of the Air Bridge to the Islands

Abstract

The viability of Scotland's remote island communities remains threatened by long-term out-migration and associated demographic imbalances. This problem persists because the socio-economic position of some communities does not necessarily offer the opportunities and hence quality of life people seek. EU, public sector and community action remains focussed onaddressing these issues. Integral to that effort is the contribution of air transport to the accessibility of opportunities. However, some nominally ‘lifeline’ air services rely on public subsidy and therefore, with pressure to cut public sector expenditure, a question for debate remains: should the air bridge to the islands continue, if so why and in what form? This paper contributes to the debate, using findings from an exploratory case study of lifeline air services for Barra and Vatersay in Scotland's Outer Hebrides. Employing data from both a self-completion postal questionnaire and interviews with members of the islands' communities the study found the air service to be integral to the islands' identity, perceived as important to the quality of island lifebut subject to political, operational and economic challenges and threats. The paper proposes research exploring the holistic value of the service and the feasibility of innovations to mitigate those challenges and threats.