While the bulk of the population of the UK lives on the country’s mainland, its smaller islands are also home to a wide variety of people and places. Due to their geographical separation from the mainland, and the slow speed at which boats travel, regional air transport plays an important role in keeping these islands connected. One such route in this category has now been active for nine decades.
A recent anniversary
The corridor in question is, as Loganair reported on the anniversary of its launch on May 8th, the UK’s longest-running commercial air route, and it connects two Scottish destinations. Specifically, it links Kirkwall Airport (KOI) in the Orkney Islands to Inverness Airport (INV) on the mainland. Today, Loganair is the route’s only carrier.
The first flight, which took place 90 years ago this week on May 8th, 1933, was a rather different affair to Loganair’s present operations. Operated by Highland Airways, the General Aircraft Monospar ST-4 Mk.II that made the inaugural journey had space for just three passengers. It stopped at Wick en route from Kirkwall.
