Significant construction work is set to begin next month at Tingwall Airport with a £1.3 million project to resurface the runway and apron. The essential upgrade, expected to take approximately four weeks, will be carried out by Shetland Islands Council’s Roads Service, with additional specialist plant being brought in for the task.

The project will involve resurfacing the entire 805-metre length of the main runway. This will require a substantial supply of asphalt, estimated at 3,500 tonnes, which will be prioritised from the Council-run Scord Quarry during the month of May. Contractors requiring asphalt during this period are advised to contact the quarry to discuss availability.

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The resurfacing work is deemed necessary to improve the long-term integrity of the runway, which has experienced deterioration in recent years, leading to increased maintenance needs. This upgrade is crucial for the continued safe operation of flights and for the airport to maintain its licensing by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).

Moraig Lyall, Chair of the Council’s Environment and Transport Committee and ZetTrans, highlighted the importance of the project: "Resurfacing the runway at Tingwall Airport represents a major investment by the Council to support the communities in Foula and Fair Isle who rely on lifeline flights for many aspects of island life. Tingwall Airport, in the Central Mainland, is an important component of our resilience as an island group and this investment in the infrastructure will enable it to remain an important hub for inter-island flights."