18 June 2013
Scotland’s regional airports gained more than 8,000 additional passengers last month though seven of Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL)’s 11 airports recorded a drop passenger numbers.
According to recent results, HIAL’s 11 airports handled 122,546 passengers in May 2013, an increase of 8,180 on May 2012 (+7.2%).
Continuing oil sector growth saw Sumburgh attract an extra 4,967 passengers (+29.3%), while Wick John O’Groats recorded an additional 2,796 passengers in May (+123%). Kirkwall and Inverness also saw passenger numbers rise.
The Western Isles airports (Stornoway, Benbecula and Barra) all reported a drop in passenger numbers as a result of recent schedule changes. Passenger numbers were also down at Dundee, Islay, Tiree and Campbeltown.
However, a new Sunday service between Glasgow and Campbeltown – launched this month – is expected to provide a boost for tourism in the Kintyre peninsula, enabling golfing trips and weekend breaks.
Inglis Lyon, Managing Director of HIAL said, “The continuing success of flybe’s Inverness to Amsterdam service is welcome news for the region and highlights the importance of Schiphol as a world hub for the north. However, it is vital that the region continues to push for access to London’s main airports, and we are working closely with easyJet and others to grow the hugely successful Gatwick market. At the same time, we would urge the UK Government to do more to safeguard regional links into London.”
<a href=’http://www.hial.co.uk’ target=’_blank’>www.hial.co.uk</a>
