More than 52,500 passengers used Inverness Airport in June, a record number for the gateway air hub for the Highlands and Islands.

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.

Figures released today showed that a total of 265,789 passengers have used the airports in the first quarter for 2004/05, a 10.9% increase on the first quarter total of 239,630 in 2003/04.

Inverness continued to be the North of Scotland’s fastest developing airport in June with 52,546 passengers. This represents growth of 24.7% on June last year and an increase of 20.8% in terms of first quarter traffic in 2004/05 (148,412 passengers) compared to 2003/04 (122,873 passengers).

Passenger growth for the month of June was also recorded at Campbeltown (13%), Islay (11%), Kirkwall (5.9%), Stornoway (5.1%), Sumburgh (5.1%), and Tiree (4.7%).  Barra, Benbecula and Wick airports saw small decreases in passenger numbers compared to the monthly totals in June 2003.

Total aircraft movements at the 10 airports in June amounted to 7,470, a 2.3% increase on June 2003.

Bob Macleod, managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports said: “June has been a very good month with our scheduled passenger traffic boosted by Thomson and Transun operating summer holiday charter flights from Inverness. Our cross-border traffic at Inverness to Birmingham, Manchester and London also continues to grow, bringing many more leisure and business travellers into the region.

“One major impact of this passenger growth is increased tourism spend as we see many more UK and overseas visitors arriving by air at Inverness which can only be good news for the region’s leisure and hospitality industry. The airports are major value generators for our economy and developments such as Inverness Airport Business Park will further enhance their role in supporting economic development and social sustainability.

“If the current growth continues our 10 airports will handle over one million passengers this year, with more than half of that total travelling through Inverness. We are also hopeful that more new routes can be added at our airports in the next year and that people in the region will enjoy even more choice in destinations and services,” said Mr Macleod.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited manages and operates 10 airports in the North and West of Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive. The airports range from the principal hubs at Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh to those at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Tiree and Wick.

The company is responsible for providing airport infrastructure, facilitating lifeline air links, developing air traffic in the region and supporting economic sustainability and social inclusion in Scotland’s remoter communities.

In the year ending 31 March 2004 the 10 airports handled 934,000 passengers and more than 81,000 aircraft movements. Passenger numbers ranged from 5,600 at Tiree to 484,000 at Inverness.

For further information see the www.hial.co.uk website.