4 October 2012
Wick Airport is to be renamed Wick John O’Groats Airport in a bid to promote the airport as the gateway to the UK’s most northerly mainland settlement.
The move was suggested by the Airport Consultative Committee in order to reflect the status of John O’Groats as a world famous tourist destination and highlight the close proximity of the airport to the village, which is undergoing a multi-million pound transformation.
Airport operator HIAL (Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd) hopes the new name will help put the new look John O’Groats on the map for inbound visitors. The company is currently in discussion with airlines on possible route expansion in a bid to capitalise on the likely boost to visitor numbers as a result of the redevelopment of John O’Groats.
Inglis Lyon, Managing Director of HIAL, said, “John O’Groats is one of the UK’s most famous landmarks and it makes perfect sense to incorporate the village in the airport’s name. We are proud of the role that Wick Airport has played in the Caithness & North Sutherland economy over many years. Now, as Wick John O’Groats Airport, it has a name that better reflects its status as the gateway to the northern highlands, and to one of the UK’s most iconic landmarks.”
The airport’s International Air Transport Associate code – used by pilots and air crew around the world – will remain WIC. Regional airlines Flybe and Eastern Airways currently operate commercial flights from the airport.
<a href=’http://www.hial.co.uk’ target=’_blank’>www.hial.co.uk</a>
