A HIGH-flying bride is winging her way to a lifetime of happiness with her groom — after they got hitched on an airport runway. 

Kilmacolm air stewardess Rhona McWilliam and husband Billy Somerville tied the knot on a windswept landing strip in Oban. 

Rhona and Billy, a Royal Navy Reserve petty officer, plumped for the picturesque location due to their shared love of flying. 

But they had to clear the runway just moments after their wedding guests witnessed them exchanging romantic vows — to allow an incoming plane to touch down. 

Rhona, 49, who works for holiday carrier Jet2, said: “We fell in love with the airport. We have both been married before and we wanted to do something that was special to both of us.

“Billy remembered going to Oban Airport on exercise with the Royal Navy Reserves, so we went up to see it and it was just perfect.

“Our wedding was amazing, even the weather went our way.” 

Rhona added: “The fire brigade staff at the airport arrived in their fire engine to take us up to the ceremony.”

“We had a reception after the wedding in a hotel overlooking the airport.”

The couple were married by a registrar at the end of the runway with Billy’s sister Jean MacKenzie and her husband, Duncan, the Greenock butcher, and Rhona’s friend Eileen Johnstone as guests.

As the ceremony came to a close a flight from the islands of Coll and Tiree had arrived early, and circled the skies waiting to land.

Rhona added: “The passengers wondered what was going on as they came off the plane!”

Billy, who featured in the Tele after he was honoured for his part in a British forces anti-piracy exercise in Africa, proposed to Rhona at the bells last Hogmanay.

Rhona said: “We wanted to get married this year because we both turn 50.

“Although we were married in Oban we wanted to keep everything else local. I bought my dress from a Kilmacolm boutique and our flowers too.”

Billy, 50, who is originally from Greenock, said: “We have both been all over the world with our jobs. But we are very patriotic and wanted to get married in Scotland.

“It was just perfect.”

Now the happy couple are getting ready to take to the skies together, on their way to the Caribbean for a honeymoon cruise.