Summary
Highly recommended. The only thing that would beat this type of journey into London would be a helicopter … or a time machine.
Quick Review
Ups
Journey time
Convenience
Views
Downs
Cost
Need to get used to riding in small aircraft
Score (ignoring cost) : 9/10
Why does the Isle of Wight need an airline?
Getting off the Island can be a bit of a chore. As we all know, it usually involves fighting through traffic on the mainland or taking to most forms of transport – a bus, Island Line tube train, boat/hover over the water and then a train at the other end.
It also takes a fair amount of time. Starting with the Bus Link in Ventnor to Shanklin station, it takes just over the three hours including all of the connections.
Having little option but to use this jumble of carriage, I’d accepted it and saw it as a way of getting work done, while enjoying the relative peace and quiet away from an Internet connection.
It’s with this in mind that Chris Williams setup Wight Airlines to fly to London.
Knowing that I needed to be in London on Wednesday last week, I thought I’d try the service out to rather than battle the trains.
A quick call to Wight Airlines (Wight Airways as some people have called it) confirmed that there was a space on the flight for the next day. (Thanks to Chris for sorting out a seat on the plane so I could write this review)
The Flight from the Isle of Wight to London City Airport
Waking at a normal hour, rather than the usual crack of dawn, Sal and Alpha gave me a lift over to Sandown airport for a very relaxed 9:45, as requested. If you’re leaving your car, there’s free parking available.
We sat down with the provided hot drinks and watched as the pilots made their preparations.
Getting on to the twin-engined plane at 10:15 with the other two paying passengers we hopped into our comfy seats and buckled up. Following the safety procedures, we taxied down the runway with pilot and co-pilot in control at the front.
I’ve not often been in small planes, but had taken a few propeller flights before, so as we bobbed down the grass it was all new and exciting and soon we were waving goodbye to Sandown.
The weather was a little overcast, so visibility wasn’t going to be great, but we had a chance to see Ryde and its pier before we entered the clouds.
With not much to look at – well frankly nothing, I got stuck into some work on my laptop.
A mere 30 minutes later we were emerging from the clouds with our nose pointing down towards the runway at City airport, which is located in the old Royal Docks.
After briefly chatting to the other passengers about their reasons for taking the flight I jumped off the plane straight through the doorway the plane was parked just by. Within five minutes I was sitting on the DLR train heading for the West End, where I arrived 38 minutes later, just slightly longer than the time it had taken to travel from the Isle of Wight!
The flight from London to the Isle of Wight
I quickly rushed through City airport and its security with none of the queues you’d normally associate with travelling by air (note this was before the recent ‘security’ palaver, so I don’t know if that’s changed). Jumping on the plane, we were up in the cloud-free sunshine in no time.
We were instantly rewarded with views of London that were so amazing that is felt like a real privilege to see them. Besides not normally flying over this section of London (the City) and to be doing it at a relatively low height, with this size plane you also have the advantage of having the freedom to look around – on the right, left and behind yourself.
As we flew over Surrey, looking back through the windows, the view was London as far as you could see. It really gives you an understanding as to why it’s one of the world’s major cities – it’s vast.
The trip was worth it alone for the extraordinary views we saw on the way back.
One thing to be aware of is that the flight will not be as smooth as most flights that you’ve been on. Depending on the day, there can be some turblance, which you do get used to, it’s just that we’ve been conditioned by large planes into assuming it will be as smooth as a mill pond.
Within thirty minutes we were passing over the south of the mainland and seeing the welcoming site of the Island. A few minutes later we were landing on the grass runway of Sandown airport arriving just after five o’clock.
Chatting to fellow passengers, all of them were impressed with the service, saying that they’d recommend and would most likely use it again.
I’d heartily recommend the flight, if the money isn’t an issue. It’s surely the quickest way to get from the Island to London. With stunning views thrown in for free.
The Future
One of the requests from some of the forty passengers that had been carried by 9 August has been to get to London earlier and leave later.
Chris tells me that he can’t land in London any earlier as City airport charges another £350 if he lands before 10 o’clock. The fees also go up considerably if he leaves after 16:25 on the way back.
If demand is sufficient, the 6 seater plane they’re now using have may be replaced by a 16 seater (LAT 410), with the current plane being used for routes to Southampton and Bournmouth.
At least two of the passengers were residents in Bembridge and asked if their local airport could be used (it being closer to home for them). Gladly (for Ventnor residents) Sandown airport is better suited as Bembridge is narrow and shorter.
Pricing
Monday & Friday
Sandown (09:20) -> London City (10:05) £101.36
London City (10:35) -> Sandown (11:20) £94.36
Sandown (15:10) -> London City (15:55) £94.36
London City (16:25) -> Sandown (17:10) £94.36
Wednesday
Sandown (09:20) -> London City (10:05) £94.36
London City (10:35) -> Sandown (11:20) £94.36
Sandown (15:10) -> London City (15:55) £94.36
London City (16:25) -> Sandown (17:10) £94.36
There’s also return flights from £169 and flights to and from Guernsey.
Contact details
Wight Airlines
Phone: 01983 402 402
Web site
Click on any of the photos to see larger versions, or take a look at the set or sit back and watch the show.
