Northern Scottish airports enjoy 7% growth

Airports in the north of Scotland have seen a seven per cent rise in passenger numbers since April 2006, according to new statistics.

Figures from Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) suggest that about 71,000 more people have passed through airports in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in the last 11 months.

Flights have also increased in tandem, with a near nine per cent rise in air services.

According to HIAL, a number of new routes and the Scottish executive's Air Discount Scheme have served to boost passenger numbers in the region.

"The positive impacts of the enhancements to the air network achieved in the past 11 months are reflected in the increasing demand from people who are choosing and who can afford to fly," commented Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL.

Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority published figures indicating that regional airports in the UK saw a significant rise in passenger numbers last year, with 98 million people using local hubs to fly to destinations in the UK and overseas.

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