Roberta Aguirre
The Isle of Skye, an island in the northwest of the Scottish Highlands, does not have a commercial airport. Inverness Airport, around 100 miles from Sleat, is the nearest airport to Skye. However, there are plans to reopen Ashaig Airfield near Broadford, which has not been in operation since the 1980s.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | Inverness Airport |
| Distance from nearest airport | 93 miles |
| Airports with connecting flights | Glasgow International Airport, Heathrow Airport |
| Airlines operating to Inverness | BA, Easyjet, Ryanair |
| Airports previously serving Skye | Ashaig Airfield |
| Distance from Inverness to Sleat | 100 miles |
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What You'll Learn
Inverness Airport is the nearest airport to Skye
While there is no commercial airport on Skye itself, there have been ambitious plans to reopen an airport on the island. Ashaig Airfield, located near Broadford, previously offered flights to Glasgow until 1988. The airfield was even featured in the 1980 film "Flash Gordon." Reestablishing an air service to Skye has been recognised as a positive development, potentially generating significant revenue.
However, getting to Skye is not solely dependent on Inverness Airport. The island is well-served by the famous CalMac ferry service from Mallaig to Armadale, offering up to eight daily crossings during the summer. This ferry ride is renowned for its stunning views of the Small Isles, Ardnamurchan, Knoydart, and Skye. Additionally, the historic steam train service from Fort William to Mallaig connects with the ferry service to Skye.
Alternatively, travellers can opt for the regular train service from Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh, often regarded as one of the "'great railway journeys of the world." Major trunk roads also connect Skye to the Scottish mainland via the Skye Bridge. From Inverness, the A82 leads to the island, joining with the A87 near Cluanie. So, while Inverness Airport serves as the nearest airport to Skye, there are also scenic and convenient travel options for those who prefer a land or sea journey.
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Glasgow and Edinburgh airports offer alternative routes to Skye
Skye is an island in the northwest of the Scottish Highlands. Inverness Airport is the closest major airport to Skye, located approximately 100 miles from Sleat. However, as Inverness is still over two hours away from Skye by car, bus, or train, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports offer alternative routes to the island. These airports are around a five-hour drive from Sleat.
In 2018, there were plans to reopen an airport on Skye after 30 years, with a trial to introduce flights to Glasgow or Edinburgh being investigated. Ashaig Airfield, near Broadford, was built in the 1970s and previously offered flights to Glasgow until 1988. The proposal to reopen the airport was welcomed by Ross, Skye, and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford, who believed that there would be sufficient demand for flights to and from Skye.
While the positive business case for the project was recognized, it was also acknowledged that public support and investment would be required to establish a scheduled air service between Skye and the Central Belt. The working group for the project included representatives from various organizations, such as Hitrans, the local authority, HIE, Highland and Islands Airports, Transport Scotland, and Loganair.
Currently, there are no commercial airports on Skye, but there is a small airstrip that can accommodate private planes and charter flights. Those looking for alternative routes to Skye via Glasgow or Edinburgh can take advantage of the major trunk roads connecting the island to the rest of the Highlands, such as the Skye Bridge. Additionally, ferry services, such as the CalMac ferry from Mallaig to Armadale, provide a scenic and popular way to reach the island.
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Ashaig Airfield on Skye closed years ago
Skye is an island in the north-west of the Scottish Highlands. Inverness Airport, approximately 100 miles from Sleat, is the nearest airport to Skye. However, there have been plans to reopen an airport on Skye, with a trial to introduce flights to Glasgow or Edinburgh. The airport in question is the Ashaig Airfield near Broadford, which was previously used by Loganair for services to Glasgow until 1988.
The proposal to reopen the airport on Skye is led by the public transport body Hitrans, along with local partners like the Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE). The working group aims to establish a scheduled passenger air service linking the island with the Central Belt of Scotland. According to a 2016 study, resuming flights from Skye could generate up to £46 million over 30 years, depending on the aircraft's seat capacity.
The Ashaig Airfield, built in the 1970s by Army engineers, has a unique claim to fame. It appeared briefly in the 1980 film "Flash Gordon." The airfield is currently utilised by a flying club, visiting aircraft, and emergency services. It is also available for hospital patient transfers.
While the project faces funding constraints and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is ongoing interest in resuming commercial flights to Skye. The Highland Council agreed to maintain the airfield to support potential future commercial flights. The resumption of flights is expected to boost the local economy, create job opportunities, and improve transport links for locals, businesses, and tourists.
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There are plans to reopen Ashaig Airfield
There are no commercial airports on Skye, only a small airstrip at Ashaig Airfield near Broadford that takes private planes and charter flights. However, there are plans to reopen Ashaig Airfield to scheduled flights. The public transport body, Hitrans, is working with local partners—the Highland Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE)—to establish a pilot scheduled air service between Skye Airport and the Central Belt. A working group will be created to determine the necessary investment, technical requirements, and licensing to make this possible.
The move has been welcomed by Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP Ian Blackford, who believes that there will be sufficient demand for flights to and from Skye. He said:
> "I am convinced that if flights could be resumed from Skye that there will be sufficient demand to support flights to the central belt of Scotland and beyond. Skye is very much the missing link in Scotland’s air network. Let’s put Skye on the map for air services, benefiting locals, businesses and tourists."
A previous study has calculated that over 30 years, the flights could generate between £36 million and £46 million, depending on whether nine-seat or 19-seat aircraft were used.
Currently, the nearest major airport to Skye is Inverness, which is just over a two-hour drive, bus, or train journey away. Inverness Airport is approximately 93-100 miles from Sleat on Skye and offers daily services to and from a number of UK airports, including Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Stornoway, Manchester, and Southampton. There are also a number of international flights, some of which are seasonal. Alternatively, frequent services operate to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, both of which are around a five-hour drive from Sleat.
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Inverness Airport is approximately 100 miles from Sleat on Skye
Skye is an island in the northwest of the Scottish Highlands. Inverness Airport is the nearest major airport to Skye, approximately 100 miles from Sleat on Skye. It is just over a two-hour journey by car, bus, or train. Inverness Airport offers daily services to and from several UK airports, including Gatwick, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Stornoway, Manchester, and Southampton. There are also a number of international flights, some of which are seasonal.
While there is no commercial airport on Skye, there are plans to reopen Ashaig Airfield near Broadford, which was built in the 1970s and featured in the 1980 film Flash Gordon. The public transport body Hitrans is working with local partners to establish a scheduled passenger air service linking Skye with the Central Belt of Scotland. This move has been welcomed by local MP Ian Blackford, who believes that there is sufficient demand to support flights to and from Skye.
As an alternative to Inverness, frequent services operate to and from Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, which are around a five-hour drive from Sleat. Glasgow International Airport is the primary entry point to the region, with around four flights landing each month. British Airways offers flights from Heathrow to Glasgow International Airport, and Loganair operates flights from Glasgow International to the Inner Hebrides and Isle of Skye.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no commercial airport on Skye. Inverness Airport is the nearest airport, located approximately 93-100 miles from Sleat.
Yes, there are plans to reopen Ashaig Airfield near Broadford. A working group has been created to investigate the possibility of introducing flights to Glasgow or Edinburgh.
You can get to Skye by car, bus, train or ferry. There are also flights to Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh, which are around a 2-5 hour drive from Sleat.
