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Flying Index Highlands and Islands Airports Limited  

Flying
Passenger Numbers In Highland - January 2005

HIAL’s Airports on Target for One Million Passengers

The January 2005 passenger figures from Highlands and Islands Airports Limited show that more than 66,000 passengers used the company’s 10 airports in the month, a 7.6% increase on January 2004.

Total passengers for the 10 months of the 2004/05 operating year stand at 868,339, a 10.1% increase on the same period in 2003/04.

Inverness continues to be the fastest developing airport in the region with passenger growth of 19.4% in the current year. The airports at Barra, Campbeltown, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Tiree have also increased their passenger numbers in the year compared to 2003/04.

The 10 airports handled 5,856 aircraft movements in January, an increase of 2.3% compared to January 2004, bringing the running total for the 10 months to 69,548.

Bob Macleod, HIAL’s managing director said: “Our airports are on target to handle a total of more than one million passengers in the year ending 31 March 2005. This will be a significant milestone in the growth of scheduled air services that has been achieved in recent years and reflects the vital role our airports play in the region’s transport network.

“The start of Eastern Airways’ Wick-Aberdeen-Inverness service at the end of this month and easyJet’s Inverness-Belfast service in July will ensure further growth in the months ahead,” added Mr Macleod.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited – Total Passenger Movements January 2005

Airports Monthly Total 2004/05 Monthly Total 2003/04 Monthly Total % Difference Running Total 2004/05 Running Total 2003/04 Running Total % Difference Annual Total 2003/04
Barra 535 436 +22.7 7,875 7,364 +6.9 8,511
Benbecula 2,202 2,687 -18 26,317 29,556 -11 34,336
Campbeltown 542 546 -0.7 7,936 7,624 +4.1 9,090
Inverness 36,398 32,148 +13.2 485,109 406,174 +19.4 483,937
Islay 1,174 1,374 -14.6 18,876 19,239 -1.9 22,382
Kirkwall 7,837 7,364 +6.4 97,761 96,442 +1.4 113,675
Stornoway 7,873 7,539 +4.4 96,249 92,012 +4.6 109,669
Sumburgh 7,735 7,472 +3.5 99,432 100,767 -1.3 117,651
Tiree 443 375 +18.1 4,989 4,671 +6.8 5,568
Wick 1,587 1,704 -6.9 23,795 24,547 -3.1 28,960
Total Passengers 66,326 61,645 +7.6 868,339 788,396 +10.1 933,779