There’s a renewed hum of engines at Tingwall Airport, and with it, a quiet sense of pride.
After a month of careful work and clear skies, the runway at Shetland’s beloved inter-island airport has been fully resurfaced.
Flights have now resumed, bringing with them the familiar rhythm of island life.
Work began in early May, with Shetland Islands Council’s Roads Service laying over 3,300 tonnes of fresh asphalt along the 805 metre runway, around the edges, 2,700 tonnes of crushed aggregate were laid to strengthen the perimeter, giving the airfield a clean bill of health for years to come.
For a project of this size, the weather could have made things tricky, but good conditions helped crews move quickly through the bulk of the work.
A spell of rain in early June briefly held up the final runway markings, but even those are now complete.
During the works, flights temporarily shifted to Sumburgh Airport, with the upgrade now done, aircraft are once again taking off and landing from Tingwall, reconnecting communities across the archipelago.
It’s more than just tarmac.
This runway is a vital link for the people of Fair Isle and Foula, where scheduled air services remain a lifeline for everything from supplies to medical appointments.
Moraig Lyall, Chair of the Council’s Environment and Transport Committee, said the resurfacing marked a meaningful milestone.
“Resurfacing the entire runway has been a major project and I’d like to thank passengers for their patience in recent weeks while this work has taken place,” she said.
“It’s great to see this job completed.
“It is a significant investment in the future of the airport that provides vital flight links for our island communities.”
Tingwall first opened in 1976, and remains under the stewardship of Shetland Islands Council.
It is licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority and operated in partnership with AirTask Group Ltd, who fly the inter-island routes on behalf of ZetTrans, the regional transport body.
The newly completed resurfacing is only part of a larger vision.
Next year, more upgrades are planned, these include new lighting for the runway and improvements to the apron area, ensuring that Tingwall stays fit for purpose in a changing world.
The project is expected to cost around £1.3 million in total.
For now, though, the runway is ready, the sky is calling, and Tingwall is once again open for take-off.
