Aberdeen airport takes off as UK No1

ABERDEEN has the fastest-growing airport in the UK, according to new figures released by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The airport which serves Europe's oil capital has recorded 9.5 per cent growth in passengers over the past year - 3 per cent more than its nearest rivals.

And the recently completed GBP10 million extension to the airport's main runway is poised to lead a major increase in passenger traffic next year as more destinations in mainland Europe and the Mediterranean are brought into direct range of Aberdeen.

Derek Provan, the airport's managing director, said the latest projections suggested that more than three million passengers will have flown in and out of Aberdeen during 2011.

He said: "There have been increases in passengers right across the board. We were seeing an increase in business traffic, improvements because of the new routes and new airlines we have brought in, and increases in leisure and holiday traffic as well as helicopter passengers.

"The major project of the year was, of course, the runway extension, which came in on budget and eight months ahead of schedule. According to a recent report, the GBP10m investment will contribute GBP20m back into the city and shire economy, creating 110 jobs, and attract up to 30,000 tourists to the North-East, spending up to GBP6.4m by 2015.

"With 2012 moving closer, one of the main aims for Aberdeen Airport next year will be to address the issue of leisure route options for our passengers. There is a team working hard behind the scenes to attract new routes."

But Mr Provan warned: "At a national level, a major issue which needs to be tackled in the immediate future is that of air passenger duty (APD). We spent much of our time lobbying on this issue this year, in the hope of changing legislation to the benefit of the passengers."

He insisted that APD would damage tourism and weaken Scotland's competitiveness.

"It is growing in the UK at a time when other European countries have abandoned the tax entirely because of its damaging effects. Despite our best efforts, it would seem the government is pushing ahead with APD as originally intended. We call for the tax to be devolved to the Scottish Government, where we feel any revenues raised would be pushed back into helping support the aviation industry and attract new routes."

Bob Collier, chief executive at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce, said: "The confirmation that it's the UK's fastest-growing airport and the consistent good performance are testimony to the benefits which the huge private sector capital investment at Aberdeen Airport has brought to the wider local economy.

"The runway extension will continue to be a significant growth factor and the airport has to be commended for its commitment to fund this major piece of transport infrastructure, because it has opened the doors to significant opportunities for new routes from Aberdeen."