More than 90,000 passengers travelled via the 10 airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited in May 2005, a 2.8% increase on May 2004’s total.

The 90,292 passengers that travelled via the company’s 10 airports brought the running total for the year to 172,725, a 1% increase on passengers for the same two month period in 2004/05.

The airports at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh and Tiree all recorded passenger growth in the month compared to last year. Wick’s passengers remained on a par with 2004/05.

The 10 airports handled 8,428 aircraft movements in the month, 18.1% more than last year, which brought the year’s running total to 15,912, a 17.9% increase on 2004/05.

Inglis Lyon, HIAL’s managing director said: “The May figures provide a good foundation for growth throughout the summer months. People are taking advantage of the competitive fares available on many of the routes in the region and the lower prices available on the PSO air services to Barra, Campbeltown and Tiree continue to stimulate the market.

“The additional frequencies between Glasgow and Benbecula have boosted numbers there while Kirkwall Stornoway and Sumburgh also saw growth as a result of service enhancements on their routes to the mainland.

“Inverness airport’s performance has been on a par with last year so far and with the introduction of larger aircraft on Eastern Airways’ Birmingham and Manchester services in June and the start of easyJet’s Belfast and Bristol services in July we expect to see a significant increase in passengers at our largest airport over the coming months,” said Mr Lyon.