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Earlier News
30 December 04
Kirkwall Airport Resumes Normal Services After Lighting Strike
Normal Services Resume at Kirkwall Airport Full airport operations at
Kirkwall have resumed following a lightning strike on 28 December that
affected systems at the Orkney Islands' passenger hub.
The lightning strike which occurred during
a storm at 11am on 28 December, disrupted airport systems including
airfield lighting, navigational aids and telecommunications. Airport
operations were restricted to daylight hours while engineers worked to
restore full services.
Engineers from National Air Traffic
Services, BT and Highlands and Islands Airports' electrical contractors
have now restored airport systems to full service.
Paul Clarkson, general manager operations
at Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd said: "Following the lightning
strike we worked closely with Loganair to minimise the disruption to
scheduled flights. Engineers have been working round the clock to
restore full services and we now have the airport operating as normal
again. "We would
like to thank passengers for their patience during the past two days and
would also pay tribute to the hard work that has enabled systems to be
restored as soon as possible."
Landing At Kirkwall Airport - Picture by Alan Moar
14 December 04
North Airports Record Strong November
2004 Performance
The latest passenger figures from
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited show that almost 77,000 people
flew via the company’s 10 airports in November, a 7.5% increase on the
same month last year. This brings the running total for HIAL’s 10
airports in the current operating year to 728,975, an increase of almost
11% on the same eight months in 2003/04.
28 November 04
easyJet Announces New Inverness-Belfast Route
Leading no-frills airline easyJet delivered a boost to the Highlands
of Scotland by announcing its intention to introduce a new route between
Inverness and Belfast International Airport. Details of the
start date, timetable and fares will be announced in the coming weeks.
easyJet already operates services to the Highlands with 14 return
flights each week between Inverness and Gatwick and Luton airports in
London. The
decision was welcomed by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, the
operator of Inverness Airport. Bob Macleod, managing director of
HIAL said: "This is excellent news for the region and we believe there
is considerable demand for this link both within the Highlands and in
Northern Ireland.
"Passenger numbers are growing at a rate of 21% in the current year and
we are on target to handle almost 575,000 passengers at Inverness by the
end of March 2005. This new route will further boost the airport's
performance and bring more people into the Highlands for business and
leisure." James
Walton, Inverness Airport manager with HIAL said: "easyJet has been a
customer airline since 1996 and we are delighted that they are expanding
their operation at Inverness. They introduced Gatwick-Inverness in early
2003 with great success and I am sure that Belfast will prove equally
successful for them."
11 November 04
Passenger Growth Continues at North
Airports
The latest passenger figures from Highlands and Islands Airports
Limited show that more than 94,000 people flew via the company’s 10
airports in October. This represents an 11% increase on October
2004 and brings the running total for the 10 airports in the current
operating year to 652,060, an 11% increase on the same seven months in
2003/04. Inverness continues to be the fastest developing airport
in the region with passenger growth of 21.5% in the current year. The
airports at Barra, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Tiree and
Wick have also increased their passenger numbers in the past seven
months compared to 2003/04.
9 November 04
NORTH MSP HAILS NEW SCHEDULED FLIGHTS
FOR WICK AIRPORT
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP Maureen
Macmillan has welcomed the £100,000 of Scottish Executive funding for
Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd, announced by First Minister Jack
McConnell during a visit to Caithness this week. The funding will allow
Eastern Airways to introduce an extra daily flight to their existing
Wick/ Aberdeen service and begin daily return flights from Wick to
Inverness and Inverness to Aberdeen.
Mrs Macmillan commented, “This is excellent news for Caithness. The ease
of access to quick and sensibly scheduled air links to Inverness,
Aberdeen and beyond is essential for business users travelling to and
from Caithness. When the new schedules are introduced early next
year travellers from Caithness will have access to around thirty onward
connections from Aberdeen and Inverness. The extra flights will also
safeguard existing jobs at Wick airport and by having an aircraft based
at Wick should create new jobs for necessary ground crew and cabin
attendants.
1 November 04
More Holiday Destinations from Inverness Airport in 2005
Holidaymakers will have the choice of 35 flights to sunshine
destinations in the 2005 charter programme from Inverness Airport.
Direct charter flights from the airport to European holiday locations
will be operated by Thomson, Transun and Newmarket Holidays between
April and November next year.
Thomson will operate 12 flights to Majorca and
Turkey in 2005 while Transun are offering 19 flights to destinations
including Madeira, Malta, Sardinia and Cyprus. Newmarket will operate
four flights to Portugal, Sicily and Lake Garda.
Inverness Airport manager James Walton said: "The
holiday charter programme at Inverness continues to expand offering
holidaymakers the convenience of travelling from their local airport.
"In the past many people have travelled to Edinburgh
and Glasgow to start their holiday. Now they can fly from their own
doorstep to a wide range of destinations," he said. Alex Johnson,
commercial and marketing manager at Highlands and Islands Airports
added: "Holiday charters are playing an important part in the growth of
Inverness Airport, complementing the expanded range of scheduled
services on offer. "We hope
that 2005 will see even more people choosing to start their holiday in
the sun from Inverness," said Mr Johnson. To find out more about
holidays from Inverness Airport contact:
Thomson
Tel 0870 165 0079
Website www.thomsonholidays.com
Transun
Tel 0870 444 4747
Email [email protected]
Website www.transun.co.uk
Newmarket Holidays
Tel 0845 226 7744 (Quote NA1501G/AGT)
Or contact your local ABTA Travel Agent.18 October 04
Highland
Airports Set To Break Record One Million Passengers
More Than 558,000 Fly in Six Months
Wick Airport Reverses Decline With
Big Jump In Traffic
More than 558,000 passengers travelled
through the 10 airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited
in the past six months. This represents an 11% increase on the same period
in 2003/04 with the operator on target to handle around one million
passengers by the end of March 2005.
The six-month total for 2004/05 now
stands at 558,024, compared to 502,146 passengers in the same period in
2003/04. The largest year on year growth for the six months was recorded
at Inverness with a rise in passengers of 21.2% to a total of 313,617. The
six-month totals for Barra, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Tiree
and Wick are also up on last year’s figures.
2 October 04
Wick Airport Opening Hours On Saturdays - No Change
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited today confirmed that it had no
plans to change Wick Airport's opening hours on Saturdays after 31
October 2004 when Loganair intends to drop its Saturday flight between
Wick and Edinburgh from its schedules. The airport handles a
considerable volume of non-scheduled traffic with much of this general
aviation business occurring at weekends. Paul Clarkson, HIAL's
general manager operations, said: "There are no immediate plans to alter
opening hours at Wick following the changes to Loganair's winter
schedules. General aviation traffic is an important part of our business
at Wick and the airport will continue to support this. The airport will
continue to open on Saturdays after 31st
October."
29 September 04
Wick Kirkwall Flights To Cease
Loganair have announced that the Wick To Kirkwall flights are to cease as there are too few passengers to make it viable.
Caithness area convenor has expressed disappointment at the decisions as
he said the flight allowed people to return home at the weekend by air
which would no longer be possible in the future.
These timetable changes will take effect from 1 November onwards
Monday to Friday Edinburgh-Wick-Sumburgh-Wick-Edinburgh (Currently
Edinburgh-Wick-Kirkwall-Wick-Edinburgh)
No schedules on Saturday (Currently Edinburgh-Wick-Kirkwall-Wick-Edinburgh)
24 September 04
Air
Passenger Numbers Increase in Highlands and Islands
The increase over all for highlands & Islands although Wick had
decrease of 13 passengers in August compared to last year. It is
possible this might improve when September's figures are released due to
the number of people flying in to test the new Range Rover Discovery
cars being made available to the press from all over the world.
Many of them are flying in to test drive the vehicles on Caithness and
Sutherland roads, beaches and special test areas.
24
September 04
Work to Start on Wick Airport Terminal Upgrade
Work is set to start on the upgrade of Wick airport's terminal
building to meet new security requirements. The works project,
which will cost in the region of £800,000, will see a range of
improvements introduced and enhance passenger comfort. It will include a
new departure lounge, enlarged concourse area, new check-in desks,
office accommodation and a hold baggage x-ray facility.
The upgrade to the terminal is being carried out by Highlands and
Islands Airports Limited to comply with National Aviation Security
Programme requirements.
The principal contractor is O'Brien Construction Limited and work is
scheduled for completion by the end of April 2005.
The airport operator has invested more than £3 million at Wick in the
past three years. Work included the main runway refurbishment (£1.7
million), a new fire training ground (£296,000) and environmental works
(£755,000) to meet Scottish Environmental Protection Agency requirements
for the treatment of run-off water.
HIAL's managing director, Bob Macleod said: "We have invested more than
£3 million in capital projects at Wick in recent years, representing a
huge commitment to the airport and the community it serves. The result
is a facility ably equipped to service current needs and with the
capacity to cater for the types of scheduled service and general
aviation traffic likely to use the facility in the future."
Angela Donaldson, regional manager north said: "We are working closely
with the contractor to minimise disruption to passengers using the
terminal and the end result will be an upgraded building that offers
better facilities to our passengers."
In the year ending 31 March 2004, Wick airport handled almost 29,000
passengers and 6,300 aircraft movements. BA franchisee Loganair and
Eastern Airways operate scheduled services at Wick and the airport
receives a wide range of charter, private, lifeline and military
flights.
15 July 04
Wick Airport - Decline Continues In
Passenger Numbers
Inverness Airport Passengers Reach Record Level
More than 52,500 passengers used Inverness Airport
in June, a record number for the gateway air hub for the Highlands and
Islands. Wick, Barra and Benbecula airports saw small decreases in
passenger numbers compared to the monthly totals in June 2003.
Passenger numbers at the 10 airports operated by Highlands and Islands
Airports Limited reached almost 95,000 in June, a 14.6% increase on the
total of 82,781 for June 2003.
5 July 04
Busiest Day Ever For Inverness Airport
Inverness Airport recorded its busiest day ever for
passenger movements on Saturday 3rd July. The airport, one of the UK's fastest
developing regional air hubs, handled 2,500 passengers during the day.
28 May 04
70th Anniversary of Commercial Air Mail Services
The 70th anniversary of the first official
internal British airmail service will be commemorated on Saturday 29 May
at Kirkwall Airport in Orkney. Captain Ernest Edmund Fresson
OBE, the pioneer of flight in the North of Scotland, flew the first
airmail service from Inverness to Wick and Kirkwall on 29 May 1933.
Earlier in the same month he flew the first scheduled passenger service
on the same route and in November of 1934 he operated the first UK air
ambulance flight.
30 March 04
Air Travel To
Sweden Becomes Low Cost For Scots
A new destination of low cost travel has
opened up for people in the Highlands and Scots generally as Swedish
arilines SAS and their subsidiary Snowflake have started two new low
cost routes to Stockholm. A £46 one way ticket is available from
Inverness including taxes etc or a £99 return from Edinburgh.
We wonder if Wick and other HIAL airports can ever get in on this act.
Anyone fancy watching the football in Stockholm.
26 February 04
Kosovan Airport Staff Receive Training at
Inverness
A group of eight airport staff from Kosovo are
receiving two weeks of training at Inverness Airport as part of an
international aerodrome operations programme. Highlands and
Islands Airports Limited is delivering a two-week training programme to
the operational staff from Pristina Airport on behalf of the Civil
Aviation Authority International. Members if the Kosovan group
have already carried out training in England and are now gaining an
insight into all aspects of airport operations north of the border.
10 February 04
New Contract Sees Fisheries Flights Move to Inverness
The Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency is set to relocate its
reconnaissance aircraft from Prestwick to Inverness Airport following a
contract award with Highland Airways. The Agency has signed a
five-year deal with the regional air operator to maintain and crew its
two Cessna F406 reconnaissance aircraft, which will operate out of
Inverness. The contract will commence on 1st April 2004. The
aircraft will be based in Inverness and carry out patrols over Scottish
waters. The contract will see Highland Airways employ 12 new members of
staff.
22 January 04
North Airports’ Passenger Figures
Rise to Over 700,000
More than 700,000 passengers flew via
airports in the North of Scotland in the past nine months. Figures
for the third quarter of 2003/04 issued by Highlands and Islands
Airports today (22nd January 04) show that 726,751 travellers used the
company’s 10 airports in the nine months to end of December. This is an
increase of more than 50,000 passengers on the previous year’s running
total.
10 December 03
LOWER AIR FARES FROM INVERNESS
 Air
passengers in the Highlands and Islands are being offered significant fare
reductions between the region’s hub airports and Edinburgh and Glasgow. British Airway’s franchise partner
Loganair Ltd has introduced a new, simpler fare structure across its
network and Inverness will now benefit from the launch of ‘Everyday’
fares.
18
November 03
Fresson Trust Calendar
Celebrates North’s Aviation History
A new calendar which commemorates the rich
history of aviation in the
Highlands and Islands goes on sale this
week and will be available from each of the 10 airports managed by
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.
The 2004
Fresson Trust calendar commemorates the life and work of Captain Ernest
Edmund Fresson OBE, the pioneer of flight in the North of Scotland.
The calendar is made up of stunning images taken from original oil
paintings by leading aviation artist Edmund Miller and costs £4 if
bought directly from the airports. The calendar can also be ordered by
post for £5, including postage and packing, from HIAL’s head office.
16 November 03
Loganair Increases Flights
Edinburgh to Inverness and Stornoway Routes
Loganair
Ltd, British Airways’ the principal flight operator in the
Highlands and
Islands, has increased its air links from Edinburgh to Inverness and
Stornoway.
As a result of the new frequencies it is now possible
to travel north from the Scottish capital for a day’s business in either
Inverness
or Stornoway and return the same day.
The move comes in
response to demand from air travellers and forms part of winter schedule
changes that now include an earlier
Glasgow flight to Inverness, Kirkwall and
Sumburgh and an earlier flight from Sumburgh to Edinburgh. 8 September 03
New Cross-Border Flight For Highlands
The £6.8 million Route Development Fund will
invest in a new direct flight from Inverness to Birmingham, Transport
Minister Nicol Stephen said today.
HIAL Running Total Passenger
Figures for 2003-2004 (1 April –
31 July) |