Passenger numbers drop for Highland and Islands Airports
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PASSENGER numbers at the region's network of airports have dipped for the first time in seven years.
The latest report from Highland and Islands Airports (Hial) revealed that 1.7 million passengers used its 11 airports in the last financial year, a drop of 38,000 on the 2017-18 figures.
Aircraft movements were also down, decreasing by 1526 from 135,620 to 134,094.
The 2.1 per cent fall in passenger number contrasts with a seven per cent increase in the previous financial year.
Hial has attributed the fall in passengers as almost entirely down to a decrease in oil and gas industry helicopter flights from Shetland's Sumburgh Airport, which saw a 17 per cent drop in passenger numbers and an 18 per cent fall in aircraft movements.
Inverness Airport, the busiest airport in the Hial network, saw its own passenger numbers continue to rise however, with an increase of 3.8 per cent, despite a 3.1 per cent drop in aircraft movements to 29,736 flights. It was one of four Hial airports to show growth, with Benbecula, Dundee and Islay also seeing an increase in numbers.
The figures were unveiled in Hial's latest annual accounts, which also revealed an increase in losses from continuing operations, up from £3.08 million in the previous year to £3.3 million, despite a slight increase in revenue from £24.9 million to £25 million.
Hial says the operating loss is driven by pension adjustments made to ensure its financial statements are in line with latest accounting standards.
Hial managing director Inglis Lyon said: “Hial continues to play a vital role in Scotland’s transport network and we continue to work towards ensuring the longevity of essential air links for our local and business communities.
“As a publicly owned body we operate within a tight fiscal framework and operationally, we aim to spend no more than the grant we are given by government and seek to achieve best value in all that we do. We will continue with our drive to increase business, achieve efficiencies and manage costs while never compromising on safety.”
In his introduction to the report, Mr Lyon highlighted some of the positive achievements of the previous year, including passenger turnover at Inverness, new double-daily flights between Inverness and Heathrow, the introduction of three daily summer flights between Inverness and Amsterdam and additional flights on the Western Isles routes.
"Hial's contribution to the economic prosperity of, and social benefits for, our communities cannot be understated," he said.
"In an ever more connected world, these new and additional flights provide a major boost to our region's business communities, providing access to destinations around the global network."
Mr Lyon also stated that Hial was committed to minimising its environmental impact and was taking its first steps towards becoming carbon neutral.
Related article: Highlands to become the world's first "zero net aviation region" by 2040
