Highlands and Islands Airports Restricted (HIAL) has seen a 3.5% year-on-year enhance in passenger numbers for 2023/24 throughout its community of 11 airports bringing the whole variety of passengers to virtually 1.5million.
At Inverness, passenger numbers rose by 5.6% to 792,150. Wick John O’Groats airport, figures have been up by 22.2% to 11,224 passengers, with will increase of over 15% at Campbeltown and seven.9% at Islay bringing complete figures to 7,734 and 29,919 respectively.
Will increase have been additionally recorded at Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh and Tiree. Airports exhibiting a lower included Barra, Benbecula and Dundee.
Paul Kelsall, HIAL’s CEO, mentioned: “I’m inspired that regardless of the difficult financial local weather we now have continued to construct on the sturdy passenger figures of 2022/2023, which stay on observe for a gentle return to pre-pandemic ranges.
“We now have invested to take care of our infrastructure and make sure the longevity of our airports for years to come back. This features a £5m mission to improve the 2 runways at Islay and £9m in new power environment friendly runway lighting at Inverness and Kirkwall airports. Moreover, £5.3m was invested in a Coastal Safety Challenge at Stornoway to guard the airport infrastructure and surrounding space from erosion.
“In 2023, we welcomed the introduction of flights connecting Dundee, Orkney & Shetland with London Heathrow offering our island communities with entry to a key worldwide hub.
“I stay up for working along with colleagues to delivering the excessive degree of service that HIAL’s clients count on.”
A complete of 1,476, 547 passengers used HIAL airports in 2023/2024, a rise of 49,371.
