Airport passenger numbers up

PASSENGER numbers at Sumburgh Airport have grown by a staggering 22.1 per cent in the first quarter of the current financial year, according to operator Highlands and Islands Airport Limited.

HIAL said on Thursday that across the ten airports the company operates in the area the growth figure was almost 15 per cent.

The increase at Sumburgh was mainly due to a growth in the offshore helicopter business, HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said.

He added: “Our services act as a lifeline to many, but it is highly encouraging to be able to partially attribute increased passenger numbers to increased tourism, what with a wide variety of events occurring across the country this year.

“Obviously the 10/11 first quarter did suffer from the impact of volcanic ash, but there is more growth over and above this due to more passengers using the airlines.”