THE number of passengers flying in and out of airports in the Highlands and Islands reached a record high last year, according to figures released today.
In all, 1,270,023 people used the ten airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), a rise of 3 per cent.
A further 64,639 passengers used Dundee Airport in the past 12 months – an increase of almost 22 per cent.
During the ye
ar, Inverness lost direct flights to Liverpool and the only connection between the Highlands and Heathrow. However, routes to Birmingham, Exeter, Manchester and Southampton are being added.
Inglis Lyon, the managing director of HIAL, said: "The vital role played by air transport in our region and the commitment of airlines to enhancing services have seen passenger demand increase and our airports handle record volumes of traffic in the past year.
"Increases to frequency and capacity on routes operated by Loganair have been a significant contributory factor to the growth achieved this year, helping to make the region's remotest locations more accessible.
"At Inverness, the withdrawal of the Liverpool and Heathrow services slowed growth for the year. However, new Flybe services this spring and holiday flights to Spain and Jersey this summer will see traffic develop over the next 12 months.
"Meanwhile, at Dundee, Loganair will launch Belfast and Birmingham services this month and a new Sumburgh-Bergen service in June, so there are a number of positive developments coming on stream in the current year."
The full article contains 254 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
