Airport History

Highlands and Islands Airport's History

Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd was officially formed as a company on 4 March 1986 when it was incorporated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority, following approval by the then Secretary of State for Transport, The Right Hon. Nicholas Ridley, MP.

The first HIAL Board was chaired by Mr RG Crawford with Miss J E Davidson, Mr MS McKinnon and Mr WK Semple as Board members, with Mr R J Britton as Company Secretary.

Original Company Structure

The company was initially formed to manage operations at Benbecula, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree & Wick airports. Barra Airport later joined HIAL in 1994. Campbeltown in 1996, and Dundee in 2007.

View the 40th Anniversary Booklet produced to mark the date when Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd was formed.

Timeline of the history of aviation across the Highlands and Islands

1929 – First flight to land on Tiree by a plane chartered by the Tiree Association to visit summer sports on the Reef. (Picture:
18 April 1933 – First commercial flight from Campbeltown airfield by Midland & Scottish Air Ferries, which was also the first scheduled flight in Scotland. The pilots were Johnny Rae and Jimmy Orrell.
19 April 1933 – first aircraft landing at Sumburgh airfield.
14 June 1933 – First flight touches down at Traigh Mhor beach, Barra piloted by Captain Jimmy Orrell in a Midland & Scottish Air Ferries DH Dragon.
8 May 1933 - Captain EE Fresson takes off from the Longman Airfield in Inverness heading for Kirkwall, calling in at Wick airfield on the way. This heralded the beginning of air connectivity from the Highland capital.
16 May 1933 – first scheduled passenger flight from Islay Airfield by Midland & Scottish Air Ferries using on the beach at the head of Loch Indaal.
1933 - 1939 - Wick Airfield is used by Captain EE Fresson's Highland Airways
29 May 1934 - UK’s first internal airmail service commences with a contract for the Inverness to Orkney route, which was then extended to Wick and Lerwick.
6 August 1934 – an on-demand charter flight service to the Northern Isles is launched by Highland Airways.
1935 – A new airfield opens at Glenegedale using grass runways, which later becomes Islay Airport.
1936 – Scottish Airways commences flights at Balivanich airfield, which later becomes Benbecula Airport.
2 June 1936 – Inaugural flight to Sumburgh airfield piloted by Captain EE Fresson in a De Havilland Dragon Rapide.
1 July 1936 - David Barclay flies a DH 89 Dragon Rapide, carrying eight passengers, marking the start of regular air travel to the island of Tiree.
7 August 1936 – First scheduled flights from Barra. A single ticket to Renfrew for the 1936/37 winter service was £4 (the equivalent of £384 in today’s money).
1937 – Stornoway airfield opens for military operations.
1939 - 1945 - Sumburgh airfield is taken over by the Air Ministry and became the base for air squadrons including half of 404 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force, playing a key role in supporting coastal raids to protect shipping off the coast of Norway and the North Sea.
1940 - On Islay, RAF Port Ellen is built in tandem with a Coastal Command station at Bowmore and utilised by SUnderland flying boats.
1940 - The airfield at Kirkwall is built on farmland and commissioned as RAF Grimsetter, forming part of defences for the Scapa Flow naval base.
1940 - The airfield at Machrihanish is requisitioned by the Fleet Air Arm and the following year, becomes known as RNAS Machrihanish or HMS Landrail.
May 1940 – Civilian flights commence at Stornoway Airport with Scottish Airways using de Havilland Rapides.
1941 - RAF Benbecula becomes an official flying base alongside RAF Stornoway.
21 May 1941 - A photographic reconnaissance Supermarine Spitfire piloted by Flying Officer Michael F. Suckling flies to Norway in search of the German battleship "Bismarck".
1942 - The first tarmac runway is constructed at the location which becomes Islay Airport.
July 1943 - Ownership of the airfield at Kirkwall passes to the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and it becomes RNAS Grimsetter.
August 1943 - RNAS Grimsetter is commissioned as HMS Robin, as a satellite to the nearby RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk).
1948 - The Ministry of Civil Aviation takes control of the airfield previously known as RMAS Grimsetter.
1950s - The airfield at Machrihanish is used as a satellite of HMS Sanderling, now Glasgow Airport and to train Fleet Air Arm pilots for the Korean War.
1960s - The main runway at Sumburgh Airport is lengthened to accommodate the the growing schedule of flights.
1963 - Dundee Airport opens with a 900m grass runway built on land reclaimed from the Firth of Tay.
May 1963 - Ownership of the airfield at Machrihanish is passed from the Admiralty to the Air Ministry.
5 July 1966 first scheduled air services begin at Dundee Airport connecting to Glasgow and Edinburgh.
1970s – Dundee Airport’s grass runway replaced with tarmac runway and customs status granted to the airport.
1970s - Sumburgh Airport continues to expand with the introduction of scheduled services to connect with helicopter operations to service the oil and gas industry.
1970s - The grass runway at Dundee Airport is replaced with a 1,100m tarmac runway.
1974 - A detachment of US Marine Corps take over security at Machrihanish airfield.
1980s - US Navy Seals arrive at Macrihanish airfield.
4 March 1986 – Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd is incorporated by the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Its airports include Benbecula, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree & Wick.
1994 – Barra Airport joins HIAL.
30 June 1995 - the US Navy hands back the airfield at Machrihanish to the Ministry of Defence, marking the end of its service as a NATO facility and it is renamed MOD Machrihanish.
1995 – Ownership of HIAL is transferred from the UK CAA to the Secretary of State for Scotland and to the Scottish Ministers upon devolution.
1997 - The new airport terminal building at Dundee Airport is opened by the then EU Transport Commissioner, Neil Kinnock.
1 April 1996 - Campbeltown Airport joins HIAL.
2004 – Islay’s new passenger terminal opens.
1 December 2007 – Dundee Airport joins HIAL.
2017 - A £7m investment project to upgrade the facilities at Sumburgh Airport including a dedicated lounge for offshore workers and improvements to the terminal building is completed and opened by the then Transport Minister, Humza Yusaf.
2018 - £1million coastal erosion project is completed at Benbecula Airport.
2020 - HIAL Airports operates skeleton service to support lifeline and essential flights during COVID lockdowns.
October 2021 – 40 years of Inverness Airport celebrated.
November 2021 – £4 million investment into runway refurbishment at Campbeltown Airport to extend its life and allow aircraft of over 6.85 tonnes to use it for medical, lifeline and emergency services.
December 2022 - £2.9 million investment project at Sumburgh Airport to rehabilitate the helicopter runway, upgrade the aprons and vehicle crossing, install energy efficient AGL lighting and drainage works is completed.
2023 - £1.5 million invested in a terminal refurbishment project for Barra airport is completed.
2023 - £5.5m investment project to resurface the runways and installation of AGL lighting is completed at Islay Airport.
October 2023 - £5.3million investment project to protect Stornoway airport from the effects of coastal erosion is completed.
November 2023 - £5m investment in runway refurbishment works at Islay Airport is completed.
June 2024 – Members of the Fresson Trust visits Inverness and Kirkwall airports as part of commemorative flight of Captain Fresson’s pioneering first internal Air Mail service in the UK.
July 2024 – Islay Airport announces collaboration with Nature Scot’s Species on the Edge and the RSPB to establish a safe nesting habitat for the endangered Little Tern.
August 2024 – Autonomous vehicle trial takes place to connect Inverness Airport railway station and the terminal building.
September 2024 – HIAL wins Best Use of Technology Award in the Aviation Industry Awards UK.
November 2024 – New shop and West Voe Quiet Room opens at Sumburgh Airport to provide a peaceful space for passengers.
February 2025 - £9million project to introduce more energy efficient AGL is completed at Inverness and Kirkwall airports.
March 2025 – Trial of a potential new aircraft, the Technam P2012 Traveller at Benbecula and Stornoway airports with test landing at Barra.
2025 - Kirkwall Airport welcomes 13,000 participants, supporters, coaches and visitors travelling through the airport for the Orkney International Island Games.
2025 – Campbeltown Airport shortlisted as one of two UK locations for INVICTUS hypersonic test programme.
February 2025 - £9million project to introduce more energy efficient AGL is completed at Inverness and Kirkwall airports.
January 2026 – Stornoway Airport hosts special community charity event to mark the anniversary of the Iolaire tragedy of 1919.