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.

Inverness continues to be the fastest developing airport in the region with passenger growth of 20.5% in the current year. The airports at Barra, Campbeltown, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Tiree have also increased their passenger numbers compared to 2003/04.

The 10 airports handled a total of 6,910 aircraft movements in the month, an increase of 5.4% compared to November 2003.

Bob Macleod, HIAL’s managing director said: “In industry terms November is a slow month but we have seen passenger numbers increase compared to last year and are maintaining growth of more than 10% across our 10 airports.

“Two new routes have already been confirmed for 2005. Eastern Airways’ Wick-Aberdeen-Inverness service will start in February while easyJet’s Inverness-Belfast operation will begin in July. This means that Inverness, our largest airport with the greatest development potential, will continue to drive passenger growth in the year ahead.

“Loganair’s new direct flight from Shetland to Edinburgh has also resulted in an increase in passengers at Sumburgh in November compared to last year which is encouraging,” said Mr Macleod.

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.