HIGHLANDS & ISLANDS airports continue to boom as reflected in a 19%
growth of passenger numbers in June. Helping out, although the
actual numbers are small, is the growth with the recently launched
Scottish Executive Air Discount Scheme which has reduced the cost of
flights on qualifying routes for people living in the region's
remotest communities. Its positive impact is already being reflected
in passenger growth in areas including Orkney, Shetland, Caithness and
Islay. New routes from Inverness to Dublin, Leeds Bradford and
Newcastle have already been launched this year while Ryanair will
commence an Inverness ” Liverpool service in October. The first ever
direct scheduled air service between Shetland and London, flown by
Atlantic Airways, started operating on Friday 23 June and also provides
a new link between Shetland and the Faroes.
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