Almost 96,000 passengers travelled via the 10 airports operated by HIAL in June 2005 with Stornoway breaking all its previous records for passengers in a month.

The 95,941 passengers represented a 1.2% increase on June 2004’s total and brought the running total for the year to 268,666, a 1.1% increase on passengers for the same three month period in 2004/05.

The airports at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick all recorded passenger growth in the month compared to last year.

Stornoway hit an all time monthly record with 10,882 passengers, 6.7% up on June 2004. The figures for chargeable passenger movements, aircraft movements and total landed aircraft tonnes all reached record levels at the Western Isles’ hub airport during the month.

Inverness’ passengers dropped by 1.4% compared to June 2004 and Islay’s monthly total was 9.8% less than in the previous year.

The 10 airports handled 8,719 aircraft movements in the month, 16.7% more than last year, which brought the year’s running total to 24,631, a 17.5% increase on 2004/05.

Inglis Lyon, HIAL’s Managing Director, said: “We have recorded encouraging levels of growth across the group during June with eight of our 10 airports increasing their passengers compared to June last year.

“Inverness has recorded a small drop in passengers compared to last year, in the main due to fewer holiday charter flights during the month. The launch of easyJet’s Belfast and Bristol routes at the beginning of this month and two record weekends as a result of holiday charters will re-establish the airport’s growth trend in July.

“Sumburgh’s passenger numbers continue to see small fluctuations due to the varying amounts of oil traffic at the airport but in general the efforts of the airlines and HIAL to attract more passengers with service enhancements and marketing initiatives are delivering growth at our airports,” said Mr Lyon.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited – Total Passenger Movements June 2005

ENDS