Passenger boost for regional airports
Scotland’s regional airport operator got off to a strong start to 2013, with a significant rise in passenger numbers in January.
Latest figures from airport group HIAL show that its 11 airports handled 84,981 passengers last month, an increase of 9.1% on January 2012. Much of the growth came from HIAL’s most northerly airports.
Sumburgh and Wick John O’Groats were the fastest growing airports, with passenger numbers up by 7,304 and 2,003 respectively as a result of growth in energy related fixed wing and helicopter traffic. At Kirkwall, passenger numbers grew by 1,498 as a result of increased demand for services to Sumburgh and the mainland.
Barra, Benbecula and Stornoway airports also recorded an increase in passenger numbers.
However, passenger numbers fell at Inverness, Campbeltown, Dundee, Islay and Tiree, largely as a result of schedule changes and fewer aircraft movements.
In the year to date (April 2012-January 2013), passenger numbers across the group increased by 3%, with Sumburgh, Wick John O’Groats and Barra the fastest growing, with growth of 18%, 12% and 11.2% respectively.
Inglis Lyon, Managing Director of HIAL said: “These figures represent a good start to 2013, not least in our most northerly airports where increased energy activity is fuelling a significant increase in business traffic and helicopter movements.
“Elsewhere in the group, growth was more modest, partly a reflection of winter schedule changes. Nevertheless, the overall trend shows that growth is continuing, which is obviously encouraging given the still fragile nature of the economy.”
