Growth in Highland airport passenger numbers
NEW figures show the number of passengers flying to and from the Highlands has grown, but some north gateways have been hit by a decrease in energy-related traffic.
Highlands and Islands Airports’ (HIAL) strong run of growth in 2015 continued in the last quarter according to the latest figures.
In the third quarter (July to September), the group recorded an extra 12,522 passengers (up 3.1 per cent) compared to the same period in 2014.
Numerically, Inverness was the strongest performing airport, gaining an additional 9526 passengers during the quarter (up 5.3 per cent) due to growth in the domestic market and increasing demand for the airport’s Dublin route.
An increase in scheduled and charter traffic saw Islay claim the mantle as the fastest growing airport in the group, with an extra 1009 passengers, up 12.2 per cent on 2014.
Demand at Sumburgh rallied after dropping in the first two quarters of the year. An increase in energy-related traffic saw passenger numbers rise by 5658 (up 6.5 per cent) during the period though it remains to be seen if this growth will be sustained given the wider structural changes in the industry.
Numbers dropped slightly at Kirkwall and Stornoway. At Wick John O’Groats, following growth in the first two quarters of this year, passenger numbers fell in the third quarter.
This was a result of a drop in energy-related activity, reflecting the fluctuating nature of the sector. However, since the start of the year, overall demand at Wick John O’Groats has increased at a rate of 6.2 per cent.
Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL, said: "These are strong figures for the quarter and show that demand on most services and at most airports is increasing.
"Inverness is continuing to perform well thanks to new and expanding services and we are working hard to provide even more choice for passengers."
