Highlands and Islands Airports Limited is on target to record its busiest ever year by the end of March with its 10 airports handling the company’s highest ever passenger total.

Figures released today show that in the past 11 months HIAL’s airports have handled 1,059,000 passengers, a 13% increase on the same period in 2004/05. HIAL is now on target to exceed its previous passenger record of 1,100,609 passengers set in 1995/96.

Today’s figures show that in February 83,124 passengers travelled through the airports which represented a 22% increase on the figure for February 2005. The airports with the greatest gains in the month were Inverness (+32%), Sumburgh (+30%) and Wick (+28%).

All 10 airports have handled more passengers over the past 11 months than in the same period in 2004/05. The fastest growing airports in the region based on performance to the end of the February 2006 are: Benbecula (+9%); Inverness (+17%); Sumburgh (+16%); Tiree (+16%) and Wick (+10%).

Aircraft movements in January totalled 6,734, a 10% increase on 2005’s figure, while the running total for the operating year stands at 85,744, 13% up on last year.

The start of Dublin-Inverness, Inverness-Leeds Bradford and Faroes-Sumburgh-Stansted air services in the new operating year, enhancements to existing schedules in the region and the Scottish Executive’s Aid of Social Character scheme to cut air fares for people living in remote communities are all expected to further increase passenger numbers at HIAL’s airports in 2006/07.

Inglis Lyon, HIAL’s managing director said: “This is a very exciting time for aviation in the region with many new developments on the horizon. The importance of air services to remote communities is reflected in the year on year growth in passengers at our airports since 1999 and there is still great demand for new services and increased frequencies. We must also recognise that the airlines themselves have played a huge part in delivering this growth through improved connectivity and new routes.

“However, most routes within the region still carry very low volumes of passengers in industry terms and we are committed to working with our customers and stakeholders to ensure that the ongoing enhancements to the air network are sustainable in the long term and continue to deliver economic and social benefits for the people and communities of the Highlands and Islands.”