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Highlands and Islands airports report growth

Passenger numbers have risen at Highlands and Islands Airports Limited’s (Hial) regional airports, according to figures for February.

Hial said the total of 92,607 was 5% up on figures from the same month last year.

An increase in passengers flying between Aberdeen and Sumburgh contributed to a 30.4% rise at the Shetland airport.

Hial said there had also been growth at Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Islay and Campbeltown.

Numbers using Dundee airport dropped by 24.9%, with Hial blaming a reduction in capacity on the London City route, the BBC reported.

Loganair is due to launch a new twice-daily service between Dundee and Stansted later this month.

There were falls in passengers at Barra, Tiree and Wick John O’Groats.

Hial managing director Inglis Lyon said: “The unprecedented growth at Sumburgh is fantastic news for the local economy and underlines the important role the airport plays as a major energy hub for Scotland.

He added: “We are confident we can attract more energy-related business to our airports, particularly Wick John O’Groats and Sumburgh.”

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