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.

The 10 airports handled a total of 7,242 aircraft movements in the month, an increase of 6.6% compared to October 2003.

Bob Macleod, HIAL’s managing director said: “We are sustaining a growth rate of 11% for the 10 airports this year which should take our passenger total for the 12 months to over one million.

“The 10,000 additional passengers at Inverness during October were a combination of growth on scheduled flights, holiday charters and the school break.

“Air services play a vital role in the economic and social life of the region and this is clearly reflected in our latest figures. They are also testament to the successful relationships we have with our airline customers and their own work to stimulate the air travel market in the region,” said Mr Macleod.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited – Total Passenger Movements October 2004

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	670	658	+1.8	6,203	6,023	+3	8,511
Benbecula	2,751	2,950	-6.7	19,173	21,133	-9.3	34,336
Campbeltown	748	811	-7.8	6,101	5,785	+5.5	9,090
Inverness	54,127	44,056	+22.9	367,744	302,741	+21.5	483,937
Islay	1,933	1,919	+0.7	14,826	14,718	+0.7	22,382
Kirkwall	9,599	10,276	-6.6	72,364	72,022	+0.5	113,675
Stornoway	10,488	10,252	+2.3	69,544	66,834	+4.1	109,669
Sumburgh	10,500	10,436	+0.6	74,245	76,071	-2.4	117,651
Tiree	464	512	-9.4	3,514	3,496	+0.5	5,568
Wick	2,756	2,921	-5.6	18,346	18,114	+1.3	28,960
Total Passengers	94,036	84,791	+10.9	652,060	586,937	+11.1	933,779

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.