More than one million scheduled passengers travelled via airports in the Highlands and Islands for the first time ever in the year ending 31 March 2005.

Year-end figures released by HIAL, the operator of 10 airports in the region, show that a total of 1,015,657 passengers used its facilities in the past 12 months. This represents a 9% increase in total passenger numbers from 2003/04.

This is the first time since its formation in 1986 that the company has handled more than one million passengers, excluding oil-industry traffic in Shetland.

HIAL’s four largest airports at Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh handled 90% of total passengers in the year.

Inverness continued to be the fastest developing and largest airport in the region with passenger growth for the year of 17% to a total of 564,776 compared to 483,937 passengers in 2003/04.

The airports at Barra, Campbeltown, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Tiree also recorded increases in passenger numbers in 2004/05 compared to the previous year.

Total aircraft movements for the year increased by 2% to 82,764 of which 80% were handled by Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh airports.

Bob Macleod, HIAL’s Managing Director, said: “Handling more scheduled passengers than ever before is clearly an excellent result for us and our airline customers. It is fitting that this milestone was reached as we marked the tenth anniversary of our accession to the ownership of the Scottish Ministers who have provided such valuable support to the airports over the past decade. The performance during the year emphasises the vital role that air services and airports play in the region and the increasing use of scheduled flights by people wishing to travel for business, leisure or social welfare reasons.

“While almost 90% of passengers in the region travel via the airports at Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh the contributions made by the smaller airports, some of which support only lifeline scheduled air services, to their own communities are also important in terms of the economic and social sustainability of the Highlands and Islands.

“It is also encouraging that Inverness continues to move towards fulfilling its potential as the region’s largest airport with the greatest scope for development. We remain determined to resolve the terminal PFI issue with the support of the Scottish Executive. HIAL gaining control of the terminal will ensure that the expansion in air services at Inverness that has brought considerable benefits to the region in recent years can be accelerated unimpeded by the financial constraints created by the PFI.

“Route development and passenger growth will remain key strategic priorities for the company in the years ahead and I have no doubt that my successor, Inglis Lyon, will steer the company to further growth when he joins us in May,” added Mr Macleod, who is set to retire at the end of May after more than seven years as HIAL’s Managing Director.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited
Total Passengers & Aircraft Movements 2004/05
1 April 2004 to 31 March 2005

Ends