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Eday (EOI): a seven seat lifeline flight, and closed to visiting aircraft

Eday is one of six Orkney North Isles airfields flown by Loganair for the council. It is currently closed to general aviation because of work in progress, so the scheduled Islander is the only way in by air.

  • Eday airfield is currently closed to all general aviation traffic because of work in progress, on the council's own notice.
  • The scheduled Loganair Islander is therefore the only way to fly in.
  • Senior citizens aged 65 and over get 50 per cent off the Economy fare between Kirkwall and Eday.
  • Loganair flies these routes for Orkney Islands Council under a public service obligation. They are lifeline services, not tourist add-ons.
  • All flights go from Kirkwall Airport (KOI), which is where you connect to and from mainland Scotland.
  • The aircraft is an eight seat Britten-Norman Islander with seven passenger seats. Seating is genuinely scarce.
  • Total luggage allowance is 15 kg across all pieces. Not per bag, and not the 21 kg Loganair gives on its mainland flights.
  • Only very small handbags and slim laptop bags go in the cabin. Everything else is checked at the Inter-Isles desk.
  • Excess baggage cannot be pre-booked and travels only if the aircraft has spare weight and space, otherwise on a later service.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Check-in closes 20 minutes before at Kirkwall and 15 minutes before from the islands.
  • Check in at the Inter-Isles desk in person if you can, so staff can weigh bags and say what may go in the cabin.
  • Book online or call the Kirkwall Inter-Isles team on 01856 872494. Some fares are telephone only.
  • Children aged 2 to 15 pay half the adult fare and infants under two travel free without a seat.
  • Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund; changes are possible up to 45 minutes before departure.
  • The Air Discount Scheme gives eligible residents 50 per cent off the core fare.

Eday

  • Eday is one of Orkney's North Isles, and its airfield is one of six owned by Orkney Islands Council and flown by Loganair under a public service obligation.
  • The airfield is closed to all general aviation traffic at present. The council notes work in progress at Eday and Westray and warns pilots against buying an annual landing ticket on that basis. If you were planning to fly yourself in, you cannot.
  • For scheduled passengers nothing changes: the Islander operates as normal from Kirkwall.
  • Senior citizen fares apply on this route. Passengers aged 65 and over receive 50 per cent off the relevant Economy fare between Kirkwall and Eday, or between the North Isles. These are booked by telephone.

How the Inter-Isles service works

  • Orkney Islands Council owns the airfield and Loganair operates the flights under a public service obligation contract. The council describes the six North Isles services as internal air services and sets the timetables itself.
  • The airfields sit 14 to 28 nautical miles north of Kirkwall in uncontrolled airspace. Every flight starts or ends at Kirkwall Airport, which is also where the connections to Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Sumburgh are.
  • The aircraft is an eight seat Britten-Norman Islander with seven seats for passengers. That is the whole capacity of a departure, which is why Loganair asks passengers who cannot travel to release the seat as early as possible.

Baggage and check-in

  • Fifteen kilograms in total, across all your bags. This is not the 21 kg allowance on Loganair's mainland flights and it catches connecting passengers out.
  • Cabin space is extremely limited: only very small handbags and slim laptop bags. Everything else is checked in at the Inter-Isles desk, even if you checked in online.
  • Excess baggage cannot be pre-booked. It is charged, and it flies only if there is weight and space. If not, it follows on a later service.
  • Arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Check-in closes 20 minutes before at Kirkwall and 15 minutes before from an island.

Fares

  • Economy and Economy Return for one-way and same-day return travel from Kirkwall, Excursion for a return from Kirkwall with an overnight stay, and Island Saver for return journeys that start and end on a North Isle.
  • Sightseer is a round trip from Kirkwall on the same aircraft with no stopover, bookable only on the day and subject to seats.
  • Open Return fares last six months from the outbound date.
  • Children aged 2 to 15 pay 50 per cent of the adult fare, except on Sightseer. Infants under two are free if they do not take a seat.
  • The Air Discount Scheme gives eligible Highlands and Islands residents 50 per cent off the core fare.

Changes, cancellations and assistance

  • Full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the flight. Changes are allowed up to 45 minutes before departure. Both go through 01856 872494.
  • If you need assistance boarding, speak to the Inter-Isles team before booking. The Islander is small, with limited cabin and hold space, and the operator wants the conversation early rather than at the steps.

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Sources (3)

What this guide was checked against. Rules and prices change — follow the official link before you rely on a detail.