Business · Kirkwall flightsKirkwall airport closure: Flights operating again after staffing disruptionAired October 29, 2026 at 12:19 PM UTCWritten October 29, 2026 at 12:40 PM UTCRead the write-upThis storyTranscript · LOADING0:07Planes are landing again at Kirkwall after air traffic control staffing problems0:10cancelled flights.0:11Loganair passengers have faced disrupted journeys and for some an overnight stay.0:15Further short closures on Thursday mean the airport is still working through0:19disruption.0:19How far have services recovered while those closures continue?0:22Kirkwall connects Orkney off Scotland's north coast with mainland Scotland and the0:26other islands.0:27The cancellations hit its Edinburgh and Aberdeen links, interrupting travel in both0:31directions between the islands and the mainland.0:33The airport handled completed arrivals and departures on Thursday morning, October290:38, but the operator, Highlands and Islands Airports, also said further short closures0:42would take place that day because of unforeseen staffing issues in air traffic0:46control.0:46Air traffic control closed from six on Wednesday evening, forcing the airport to0:50shut early.0:51Flights were moving again on Thursday morning.0:53Loganair plans an additional Edinburgh, Kirkwall return service for Thursday0:57afternoon, departing Edinburgh at three thirty.1:00The operator said it normally tries to arrange these closures around the flight1:03schedule, but couldn't do that on this occasion.1:05It described the number of affected flights as limited.1:08The staffing problem nevertheless forced cancellations across two days.1:11Wednesday's Edinburgh Kirkwall return service was cancelled, along with the Aberdeen1:15to Kirkwall flight.1:17Thursday morning's Kirkwall to Aberdeen service was also cancelled.1:20That makes four individual flight legs within those three services because the1:23Edinburgh return includes a flight each way.1:26Those four legs describe the cancellations in that list.1:29The airport hasn't given a final total covering every cancellation.1:32The day of the cancelled Kirkwall to Aberdeen flight is disputed, with Wednesday and1:37Thursday morning both given.1:38That timing difference is unresolved.1:40It doesn't provide a sound basis for adding a fifth cancelled leg.1:43Aircraft were arriving from the mainland on Thursday morning, and other services1:47were leaving Kirkwall.1:49Those completed movements show how much flying was already taking place during the1:52disruption.1:53Flights from Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Inverness had landed by late morning.1:56Departures to Glasgow and Sunburg had also taken off.1:59Kirkwall was handling aircraft again, even as passengers on other services faced2:03cancellations or delays.2:05The Edinburgh departure scheduled for eight thirty-five was still delayed at the2:08late morning check.2:09Later flights were being listed as on time, but those were expected movements.2:13Their status could still change before departure.2:16Inter-Island flights were moving too.2:18Aircraft had arrived from North Ronald Say, Stransey and Papa Westray.2:22Departures had left for North Ronaldsay.2:24Sande and Westray, both mainland and inter-Esland connections were operating during2:28Thursday morning.2:29For passengers displaced by Wednesday's cancellations, Loganair said it arranged2:33welfare support and overnight accommodation where required.2:36The airline is contacting affected customers directly about their options, including2:40earlier flights where possible.2:42Loganair's additional Edinburgh return service is intended to help accommodate2:45affected passengers.2:47The airline apologized and said it was working to get customers to their2:49destinations.2:50The airport operator advises passengers to contact their airline directly for their2:54latest flight information.2:56Some flights have resumed, and passengers have support and alternative arrangements.2:59The operator hasn't said when all the remaining short closures will end.3:03The next planned recovery step is the extra Edinburgh departure at three thirty on3:07Thursday afternoon.3:08Its operation and the number of displaced passengers it carries still need3:11confirmation.Explore with HeyDexFollow via RSS
