Passenger numbers drop in the Northern Isles

Regional airport operator HIAL enjoyed a surge in passenger numbers last quarter, although figures reveal that both in Orkney and Shetland passenger numbers actually dropped.

Latest figures show the group, which comprises 11 airports across Scotland, attracted 385,491 passengers during the period, an extra 19,000 compared to the same point last year. Across the group, passenger numbers grew by 5.3% with much of the growth at HIAL’s Inverness hub.

The Highland terminal saw passenger numbers rise by 20,098 (up 12.1%) over the period due to strong demand on its Dublin and Manchester services and other cross border routes. A new weekly summer service from Inverness to Zurich also launched during the period. With an extra 60,000 seats on offer this summer, the airport is expecting its busiest ever summer.

There were also increases at Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Stornoway and Wick John O’Groats.

However, Kirkwall, Barra, Dundee, Tiree and Sumburgh recorded drops in passenger numbers.

In Kirkwall, passengers numbers fell by 887 on the same period last year, with a figure of 47,297, down from 48,184, or -1.8 per cent.

Sumburgh figures showed passenger numbers were down to 77,954 from 78,836, down by 882, or -1.1 per cent.