Record-breaking figures show Inverness Airport's importance, says Highlands and Islands Airports
PASSENGER figures for Inverness Airport have grown by more than 20 per cent for the financial year to March.
The year-on-year increase was a significant contributor to regional airport operator Highlands and Islands Airports (HIA) achieving record-breaking figures.
The Inverness figures reached 829,018 for the financial year, up from 671,103 for the previous 12 months.
HIA believes the rise illustrates the airport’s popularity and increasingly important role as a driver for the Highland region and economy.
In addition to growth as a result of the airport’s Heathrow and Amsterdam Schiphol flights, all major routes from the city welcomed additional passengers.
British Airways and its Oneworld partnership operates the Inverness-Heathrow route, with Dutch operator KLM and its SkyTeam partners operating the flight from Inverness to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
The increase for Inverness was part of a 15.4 per cent rise in passenger numbers at HIA’s 11 airports across Scotland.
A total of 1,658,423 customers used HIA airports during the period, an increase of 220,798 passengers on the 2015
Other HIA airports that experienced growth in numbers at the same time were Barra, Sumburgh, Dundee, Tiree, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Islay.
Inglis Lyon, Inverness-based managing director of HIA, said: “Overall, the past year has been one of significant growth in passenger figures across the group, illustrating customer demand for our air services and the improved connectivity they provide for communities.
“Our regional airports continue to play a key role, enhancing and supporting Scotland’s economy and offering great choice for leisure and business passengers.
“Our commitment is to continue to invest in our airports, and further develop our customer service as we attract new business and look to build upon the levels of growth witnessed in the last financial year in the future.
“Thanks as ever to all staff from all partners who helped make this a record-breaking year.”
Passenger numbers declined at Wick John O’Groats, Campbeltown and Benbecula.
