Support for the extension of the runway at Sumburgh Airport on Shetland has been announced by Transport Minister Nicol Stephen.

The planned 320 metres lengthening of the runway will allow larger aircraft to take off and land, attracting the oil industry back to the airport, improving the reliability of passenger services and making it possible to develop new air routes. It is hoped work could start next summer.

The Executive will provide up to £3.75 million for the £9.75 million project, with Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) contributing £2.5 million, Shetland Islands Council £800,000 and Shetland Islands Enterprise £200,000. A bid is also being made for £2.5 million of European funding.

The Transport Minister met Shetland Islands Council today to discuss air services and the delivery of further transport improvements for Shetland.

Nicol Stephen said: “The new, longer runway at Sumburgh Airport will be a real benefit to Shetland by enabling larger aircraft to take off and land. They are cheaper to run and less likely to be cancelled due to bad weather, which will improve services for the economically vital oil industry and islanders.

“HIAL has ambitious plans to develop new air routes from Shetland, not just within Scotland, but to the rest of the UK, Scandinavia and Faroe. The Scottish Budget will boost HIAL’s efforts to support and expand air services from the Highlands and Islands, and the runway extension at Sumburgh Airport will also help to make these new routes possible.

“HIAL and local representatives believe that this project is the right way forward. I am delighted that the Executive has been able to respond positively to the strong case that they have made for our support.”

The funding from the Executive will be provided through HITRANS, the regional transport partnership for the Highlands and Islands, who have made the runway extension one of their top priority projects. HIAL are bidding for support from the European Regional Development Fund. A decision is expected in December 2004, allowing work to start in April 2005, with the extended runway operational from October 2006.

Bob Macleod, Managing Director of HIAL, said: “This is excellent news and brings the realisation of the Sumburgh runway extension closer.

“The extension will enable existing aircraft flying to the airport to operate without the current weight restrictions and also enable the development of jet traffic. New traffic could be developed both to the UK mainland and on east-west routings to Scandinavia and the Faroes. Larger aircraft with more seating capacity also create more economic scales of operation for airlines with the likelihood of cheaper fares. This will be of obvious benefit to the local economy and communities.”

ENDS