The phased programme of banning smoking in airport terminals in the Highlands and Islands will be completed at the end of August when Inverness Airport terminal becomes a smoke free zone.

HIAL, which operates 10 airports in the region, stopped smoking in the terminals at Benbecula and Stornoway in 2002 and since then the ban has rolled out to Barra, Campbletown, Islay, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick.

The completion of the smoking ban in public areas of the terminals comes ahead of a Scotland-wide ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces from next March.

Last year the designated smoking areas in the cafeteria and departures lounge at Inverness Airport were removed and the remaining smoking area in the main terminal concourse will be removed at the end of August.

Inverness Airport Terminal Manager, Sheena Mitchell, said: “We discussed this with the airport consultative committee and in light of new legislation due to come into force next year we have decided to remove the remaining public smoking area from the terminal at the end of August.”

“This will improve the overall quality of experience for passengers and visitors to the terminal while those who wish to smoke will still have the option to do so outside the building.”

ENDS