HIGHLANDS and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) enjoyed a record year in 2016 with more than 1.6 million passengers travelling through its 11 sites across Scotland – a rise of more than 10 per cent on 2015.
The regional operator saw 1,606,168 travellers use its airports, a 10.6 per cent increase, or 154,375 passengers.
Inverness Airport saw its popularity soar with a 17.4 per cent rise in passenger numbers to 796,854, which was thanks in part to continued interest in European routes to Geneva, Zurich and Dublin,as well as increased traffic to other UK airports such as Manchester.
Greater connectivity to hub airports including London Heathrow and Amsterdam’s Schiphol, also contributed to the success of the airport.
Eight of HIAL’s airports across Scotland saw steady growth – Sumburgh on the Shetland Islands added 19,186 passengers, due to regular scheduled flights supporting the oil and gas sector, and an increase in offshore traffic.
Barra Airport, which marked its 80th anniversary last summer, saw passenger numbers increase by nearly a fifth (19.1 per cent), while Tiree recorded a hike of 18.6 per cent, both due to additional rotations to these popular holiday destinations.
Dundee Airport saw an additional 15,982 passengers fly to destinations in mainland Europe and the UK in 2016 – an increase of 69.6 per cent on the previous year. An announcement on its 2017 London route is due shortly.
HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said: “We are delighted to report that the overall passenger numbers continue to rise. This clearly illustrates the value of our services to the communities they serve and proves there is strong demand for ever greater connectivity to and from the Highlands and Islands.
“Our regional airports have a key role to play in strengthening Scotland’s economy and offering great choice for leisure and business passengers.
“We will continue to invest in our airports, work in partnership with the airlines and destination airports, and further develop our customer service as we look to cement our growth in the future.”
Passenger numbers dropped at Wick John O’ Groats and Stornoway because of reduced demand from energy sector services to and from Aberdeen. Campbeltown recorded a narrow fall in annual passenger numbers of 1.1 per cent.
Strong demand between Glasgow and Islay was largely responsible for a 2.9 per cent increase in passengers to the island, with Kirkwall logging identical growth.
Benbecula Airport also benefited from its connecting flights to and from Scotland’s largest city, with a modest increase of 33 passengers (0.1 per cent).
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