Coll Airport

Coll Island Airport
Summary
OperatorArgyll and Bute Council
ServesColl
LocationColl, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
Elevation AMSL21 ft / 6 m
Coordinates56°36′07″N 006°37′04″W / 56.60194°N 6.61778°W / 56.60194; -6.61778
Map
EGEL
Location on Coll
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
02/20 1,640 500 Asphalt
Source: Source: UK AIP at NATS[1]

Coll Island Airport (IATA: COL, ICAO: EGEL)[2] is located 5 NM (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) west southwest of Arinagour[1] on the island of Coll in the Inner Hebrides.[2]

History

Coll Airport was originally known as Ballard Farm, and opened in 1975, replacing the Totronald airfield. A brief closure in 1990, before re-opening the following year as an unlicensed air strip. In 2008, Coll Airport was formally opened with a hard surface runway.[3] During the Covid-19 pandemic, and lockdown in the United Kingdom, Coll Airport was unable to utilise a fixed-wing air ambulance due to the length of runway. With no suitable helicopter landing pad, this meant the island had no access to Medivac.[4]

Highland Airways who originally operated the route to Oban went into administration in 2010,[5]. Following the administration, Loganair operated the flights until 2023.[6] Following a competitive tender process, Hebridean Air Services were appointed the new operator from 2024 of the PSO (Public service obligation) route with flights to Oban and Tiree using Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander aircraft.[7][8][9]

Airline and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Hebridean Air Services Colonsay,[10] Oban,[11] Tiree[12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Coll - EGEL". Archived from the original on 9 July 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Isle Of Coll (COL) - Airport details". Archived from the original on 24 October 2007. Retrieved 24 October 2007.
  3. ^ "Ballard Farm (Coll)". abct.org.uk.
  4. ^ "What is life like on Scotland's Hebrides during the coronavirus pandemic?". itv.com.
  5. ^ "Highland Airways goes into administration". BBC News Online. 25 March 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2010.
  6. ^ "'Improved' air links to Glasgow for islands". bbc.co.uk.
  7. ^ "Stornoway to Benbecula flights to get new operator". bbc.co.uk.
  8. ^ "Hebridean Air Services - Invaluable connections". key.aero.
  9. ^ "Extra air services for island communities". argyll-bute.gov.uk.
  10. ^ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66670899d3804648926db48d/t/68da5774efa7461880cb5857/1759139700735/Hebridean+Air+Services+Winter+Timetable.pdf
  11. ^ hebrideanair.co.uk - About retrieved 2 February 2025
  12. ^ https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66670899d3804648926db48d/t/68da5774efa7461880cb5857/1759139700735/Hebridean+Air+Services+Winter+Timetable.pdf

Media related to Coll Aerodrome at Wikimedia Commons