Lock Lomond Seaplane expands service

Loch Lomond Seaplanes has confirmed it is to expand its services in the New Year - with new routes to the Highlands & Islands.

Britain’s only commercial seaplane service - which presently operates flights between Glasgow City Centre, Oban, Tobermory and Loch Lomond (along with other on demand services) - is negotiating the purchase of more aircraft and planning to add the likes of Arran and Rothesay to its schedule by June next year.

The organisation has carried more than 12,000 passengers since the service took off four years ago.

"The success of our route to Tobermory, which only started in April, has given us the necessary confidence to look at expanding operations," explained David West, managing director of Loch Lomond Seaplanes.

"We’ve flown over 3,000 people to Tobermory and Oban alone since April and I see no reason why we shouldn’t now look at offering the same service to the people of Arran and Rothesay which are both beautiful locations."

The latest seaplane route flies visitors to the Isle of Mull from its specially constructed terminal at Glasgow’s Science Centre and has reduced the journey time to one of Scotland’s most scenic locations from a road weary four hours to a short hop of only 31 minutes.

"The recently launched service from Glasgow to Tobermory offers yet more choice to short break visitors who want to combine the excitement of the city with a taste of Scotland’s great outdoors," said Scott Taylor, chief executive to the Glasgow City Marketing Bureau (GCMB).

"Since the launch of its Glasgow Terminal in 2007, Loch Lomond Seaplanes’ first class operation on the River Clyde has proved itself to be a hugely popular - and viable - addition to the city’s portfolio of riverside developments."

Chris O'Toole