Aberdeen achieves near-20 percent uplift in passenger numbers

Aberdeen Airport achieved a near-20% rise in passenger numbers during February, new figures from operator BAA showed yesterday.

A total of 242,800 people used the north-east terminal last month, an increase of almost one-fifth of the 204,600 reported for February 2011.

It means a 14th consecutive month of year-on-year growth after a run of nearly three years when the figures were going the opposite way.

Airport managing director Derek Provan said: "Despite the challenging economic climate, Aberdeen Airport is continuing to attract more passengers - both as a result of investment and our commitment to deliver an improved customer experience.

"February is traditionally one of the quietest travel periods, so last month's strong performance is particularly encouraging given the wider economic context."

Last year saw the launch of new flights to Baku, Dublin and Frankfurt and the completion eight months ahead of schedule of a £10million runway extension amid growing signs of a sustained business recovery.

Elsewhere, BAA said its sites at Edinburgh and Glasgow grew passenger numbers by 0.1% to 611,600 and 3.2% to 429,700 respectively.

BAA's two London airports had mixed fortunes, with Heathrow up by 3.8% at 4.8million and Stansted down 4.9% at 1.1million.

Traveller numbers at Southampton grew by 4.5% to 108,700, helping the total for all BAA sites increase by 2.5% to 7.3million.

BAA chief executive Colin Matthews said the airports had continued to demonstrate their resilience in the weak economic environment we currently face.

Meanwhile, Highlands and Islands Airports (Hial) said its latest passenger figures had been boosted by strong growth at Inverness and Sumburgh.

The total for Hial's network of 11 airports in February was up by 4,845, or 6%, on a year earlier at 85,607.

Hial said Inverness enjoyed a 12.5% rise as a result of increased demand on the London Gatwick route and the continuing success of the new Amsterdam service, operated six times a week by Flybe.

The number of people flying to and from Sumburgh was up by 15.9%, which the owner said was driven by increased oil and gas-industry traffic, the Up-Helly-Aa festival and disruption to the ferry network.

Passenger numbers at Hial's airports at Campbeltown and Stornoway increased by 8.2% and 0.2% respectively.

The company said that the number of passengers using its airports over the first two months of the year was up by more than 9% to 1.16million.

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