January 2003

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WEATHER DISRUPTS AIR TRAVEL IN HIGHLANDS

Severe weather in the North and West of Scotland caused disruption to flights to and from airports operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited today.

Several Inverness flights were cancelled due to extreme weather conditions across the UK while there were knock on delays to flights at Stornoway, Benbecula, Kirkwall and Sumburgh.

Inverness Airport was closed until early Monday (3 January 2003) afternoon despite airport fire crews working through Sunday night and Monday morning on snow clearing operations.

The airports at Stornoway, Wick, Kirkwall and Sumburgh were open throughout the day although some flights were delayed.

A Highlands and Islands Airport Limited spokesman said: “Today’s heavy snow fall, particularly at Inverness Airport, has caused problems with some flights being cancelled and others delayed. HIAL’s airport fire crews have worked extremely hard on snow clearing to keep airports open, particularly at Inverness where fire fighters volunteered to work through the night. Unfortunately persistent snow showers at Inverness meant the airport did not open until the afternoon.

 “People planning on travelling by air on Tuesday should monitor travel bulletins and contact the airline concerned in the first instance for flight information. With travelling conditions still difficult on the roads in the Highlands and Islands we would advise people to check that their flights will be operating before setting out for an airport.”