The number of travellers choosing to fly in the North of Scotland is rising rapidly, according to figures released today (31 July 2003).

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited has recorded an increase in passenger traffic of 9% across its 10 airports in the first quarter of the current operating year – more than double the net passenger growth of 4% for year ending 31 March 2003.

The running passenger total for the company’s airports at the end of June 2003 was 239,630, an increase of more than 20,000 on the same period last year.

The largest year on year passenger growth for the three months was at Inverness at 19.1% and Stornoway with 22.2%. The airports at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Kirkwall and Wick have also seen passenger traffic growth.

Total aircraft movements, including scheduled, charter, executive, general aviation and military flights have also grown, up 4.7% in the first quarter to 20,868.

Bob Macleod, managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports said the increasing use of air services reflected the success of new and existing routes and the company’s proactive approach to marketing its airports.

"Our commercial strategy with airlines to develop new routes to and from the airports is paying dividends and has given the travelling public more options in terms of destinations and services, including scheduled flights and outbound holiday charters," said Mr Macleod.

"Air travel offers huge advantages in terms of time and cost savings when weighed against other transport modes in the region and is winning new passengers month on month. It is also a significant factor in the socio-economic development and sustainability of the area as a whole.

"As a company HIAL is now very focused on its customers, both the airlines and public, and as a result we have improved air connectivity both within the region and to UK hub airports like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, London Gatwick and Luton.

"As a relatively remote region we have to work hard to attract airlines to our airports by presenting robust business cases for new routes. However, the support air travel is receiving from both business and leisure travellers to and from the region is strengthening our case for further development. Discussions are ongoing with a range of airlines and flight operators and we are confident that further routes will be launched in the year ahead," said Mr Macleod.

"We are also marketing our airports for general aviation traffic from the private flying community. The airports offer access to some of Scotland’s most stunning locations and there is considerable scope to build links with flying clubs in the UK and Europe."

The airport operator is also proactively developing relationships with North Sea oil and gas operators to market its facilities.

"The decline in oil traffic in recent years has been an issue for us but we have been building relationships with offshore operators and now offer a very competitive package to the industry, principally at Sumburgh," explained Mr Macleod.

"The past year has been a low point in offshore activity but the indications are that this is turning around with great interest in the Government’s 21^st offshore licensing round and independents moving into the North Sea to exploit established and new reserves. A recent industry report revealed that there are 84 new field developments planned in the UKCS and 144 projects planned in mature fields. There is certainly scope for us to win new oil industry traffic in Shetland and off the West Coast if exploration work expands in the North Atlantic.

"Sumburgh Airport will be exhibiting at Offshore Europe in Aberdeen in early September and our message to the industry is that we have the facilities, we are competitively priced and we are willing to work proactively with them to accommodate their requirements in the North Sea and West of Shetland waters," said Mr Macleod.