Severe winter weather is causing delays and disruptions to air services in the Highlands and Islands for the fourth consecutive day.

The airports at Campbeltown, Islay, Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Tiree were all snow closed first thing this morning as heavy showers continued to fall across the region. However, following further snow clearing of runways, taxiways and aprons by the Airport Fire Service flights are operating and every effort is being made to keep airports operational as the day progresses.

At Inverness members of the AFS worked through the night on snow clearing on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and are expected to have to do so this evening, and on Saturday, as further snow is forecast.

Meanwhile Highlands and Islands Airports Limited continues to liaise closely with the airlines to ensure disruption is minimised as far as possible.

Inglis Lyon, HIAL’s managing director, said: “The weather this week has been extreme and has caused disruption, delays and cancellations of air services. The frequency and severity of the snow in both the North and North-east of Scotland has disrupted airline schedules with knock-on impacts to timetables and caused the intermittent closure of runways at many of our airports.

“The work of both our own staff and those of the airlines has been excellent and every effort continues to be made by all parties to minimise the disruption to travel. I would like to make special mention of our Airport Fire Service staff who have worked above and beyond the call of duty this week to keep runways open.”

Travellers are advised to contact the airports or the airlines direct for up to date information on flights to, from and within the region until the weather improves. Live flight information for Inverness, Kirkwall and Stornoway airports is also available on the Airlines/Flights section of the www.hial.co.uk website.