A £9.75 million extension to Shetland’s main passenger airport runway will be formally opened this afternoon (Monday 4^th September 2006) by Transport Minister Tavish Scott.

The runway extension has been the key aim of the Sumburgh Airport Strategic Partnership (SASP) and was designed to deliver improved operational capacity for existing air services and facilitate the development of new air routes to Shetland.

SASP comprises Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, Shetland Islands Council, Shetland Enterprise and the airport consultative committee.

The partnership project was delivered with funding commitments from HIAL (£2.6 million), Scottish Executive (£3.75 million), Shetland Islands Council (£0.9 million) and the European Regional Development Fund’s Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme 2000 – 2006 (£2.5 million).The extension, the single largest capital project undertaken by HIAL, was completed on budget and ahead of programme by principal contractor Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Limited. The target date for the runway becoming operational was originally the end of October this year. Project management and design services were provided by Shetland Islands Council’s Capital Programme Service.

Work started on site in April 2005 and a total of almost 400,000 m³ of material was required to extend both runway ends into the sea through land reclamation. This material was primarily extracted from the Wilsness Hill area of the airport site but included 72,000 tonnes of heavy rock armour imported by barge from Norway which was placed by autumn 2005 to secure the land reclamation. Once primary construction was completed the existing runway base and surface were extended and  new airfield ground lighting and instrument landing systems installed in line with the new runway distances.

George Henderson, chairman of SASP said: “The partners share a goal of developing the airport as a business and tourism gateway for Shetland through scheduled air services and other traffic. The runway extension ensures that we have the infrastructure capable of facilitating these goals.

“Air travel plays a vital economic and social role in Shetland and we are delighted to have been able to support its development through this successful partnership project,” said Mr Henderson.

Sandy Matheson, chairman of HIAL said: “The additional runway length will enhance the operation of existing scheduled aircraft types and open up opportunities to develop new air services at Sumburgh. Through effective partnership working we have delivered an infrastructure enhancement that will benefit the islands for years to come.

“Our thanks go to all involved in the project, both partners and contractors, for their professionalism and expertise. I would like to pay particular tribute to the HIAL staff who have maintained normal airport operations throughout the delivery of this very significant project under the direction of our airport manager Nigel Flaws,” said Mr Matheson.

Councillor Sandy Cluness, convener of Shetland Islands Council said: “The runway extension is an important addition to the islands’ transport infrastructure. Our air links are vital to our communities and economy. The extension will improve the reliability of existing links and support the future development of Shetland’s air services.

“We are pleased to have been able to utilise the project management expertise of the staff in our Capital Programme Service to ensure a very successful delivery of the runway extension scheme ahead of schedule. The effective working relationships established between the partners and the contractor were a major contributory factor to the success of this project.”

Andrew MacNaughton, managing director of Balfour Beatty Civil Engineering Ltd said: “Shetland experiences perhaps the most aggressive marine environment in the UK, if not Northern Europe. This presented three main challenges to the project team. Firstly, the structure had to be robust enough to survive the prolonged and sustained battering of the winter seas year on year. Secondly the structure had to be able to be built in a fairly short construction season with gales starting late September and running through to spring. Thirdly, the solution had to remain affordable and represent value for money for the various funding partners.

“An early contractor involvement procurement strategy was seen as the most effective way to meet these challenges. Following our appointment we were able to work closely with the HIAL and SIC team to develop and refine a solution that focussed on buildability, affordability and structural integrity. The result of this approach is evident in a project completed to budget and ahead of programme.”

The Shetland Islands comprise the UK’s most remote communities and are home to a population of around 22,000 people.

Sumburgh is the second largest of HIAL’s 10 airports in passenger terms after Inverness. In 2005/06 it handled 137,000 passengers, 18% more than in the previous year, and more than 11,000 aircraft movements. British Airways franchise partner Loganair operates island-mainland scheduled air services with Saab 340 turbo-prop aircraft between Sumburgh and Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness airports.

The first ever direct air link between Shetland and London was launched in June this year by Faroese airline Atlantic Airways which flies twice weekly between Sumburgh and London Stansted, as well as a twice-weekly service between Sumburgh and the Faroe Islands. This groundbreaking service was introduced with support from the Scottish Executive’s Route Development Fund.