Almost 98,000 passengers travelled via the 10 airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited in August 2004

The 97,660 passengers represented a 10% increase on the monthly total for August 2003 and brought the running total for the year starting 1 April 2004 to 465,000, an 11% increase on the 2003/04 running total.

Passenger numbers at Barra, Campbeltown, Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh airports all increased during the month compared to August 2003. Small decreases in passenger numbers were recorded at Benbecula, Islay, Tiree and Wick airports.

The 10 airports handled a total of 7,670 aircraft movements in the month, a drop of 5% compared to August 2003.

Speaking at the company’s board meeting in Kintyre on Friday 24 September, HIAL’s chairman Sandy Matheson said: “With the support of our airline customers we are achieving year on year passenger growth across the 10 airports. This reflects increases in leisure, business and welfare travel and the fact that more tourists are flying into the region, boosting the economy.

“Subsidy from the Scottish Executive is supporting our operations and allowing us to make investment in airport infrastructure, ensuring that the remote and island communities of Scotland continue to benefit from scheduled air services,” said Mr Matheson.

HIAL’s board met with stakeholders from Argyll and Bute prior to its meeting to discuss tactical targets and development issues at Campbeltown, Islay and Tiree airports.

Bob Macleod, HIAL’s managing director added: “We are committed to partnership working with our stakeholders and we were pleased to have the opportunity to update them on development targets for the southern region airports and to discuss ways in which we can work together to ensure the local communities gain the maximum benefit from the airports.”

For further information see the www.hial.co.uk website.