Economy and Infrastructure
Flights leave the island's Westray Airport at Aikerness for Kirkwall on the Orkney Mainland, and to Papa Westray (known as Papay to the locals) in the world's shortest scheduled journey (two minutes). The main ferry terminal is at Rapness with regular sailings by Orkney Ferries to Kirkwall.
The island's main industries are fishing, fish farming and cattle farming. Tourism is also important to the island economy. The Westray Development Trust is well known for its renewable energy and recycling initiatives and plans to make the island self-sufficient in energy by 2012. A 900 kW community-owned wind turbine was erected in October 2009, the third large-scale such project in Scotland. “When the community realised it was their turbine, not someone else’s, there was no objection,” stated Alasdair McVicar of Westray Renewable Energy.
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