Inverness Airport extends opening

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MOVE WILL ENABLE IT TO ACCEPT ROYAL MAIL FLIGHTS FOR THE FIRST TIME
BY NEIL MACPHAIL

Published: 11/08/2010

Inverness Airport is extending its hours of operation from early October to accommodate Royal Mail flights for the first time.

The move, forecast by the Press and Journal in April, replaces RAF Kinloss as the mail receiving airport and will bring about 15 new jobs and secure the airport’s position as the mail hub for the Highlands and islands.

From October 1, Inverness will now open at 3am each day, Tuesday to Saturday, to accommodate direct Royal Mail services arriving from Edinburgh with the region’s mail.

These flights are operated on behalf of Royal Mail by Loganair and Benair.

The new early-morning opening follows a period of discussion between Royal Mail, Loganair and airport operator Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (Hial).

A successful trial of the new arrangements was undertaken in June during runway resurfacing work at RAF Kinloss. The change means that mail arriving at Inverness from Edinburgh can now be transferred easily and quickly to existing onward flights from Inverness to Kirkwall, Benbecula and Stornoway.

As well as creating new jobs in the Inverness operations team for five additional firefighters and one new air traffic controller, Loganair will increase its newly-established crew and engineering operation at Inverness by 10 more jobs by November.

Royal Mail’s head of air network David Hawkins said: “Royal Mail has enjoyed a highly-successful partnership with RAF Kinloss, and we would like to thank everyone at the base for that.

“The new partnership with Inverness Airport offers Royal Mail a fantastic opportunity to further improve our operations and to enhance the already high level of service we provide to our customers in the Highlands and islands. We very much look forward to working with the team at Inverness Airport to achieve that goal.”

Inverness Airport manager Graeme Bell added: “The new service is a positive development for Inverness Airport, and allows us all to be able to offer more jobs within the local area.

“It gives us the ability to continue to support vital airlink services to the islands.”

Loganair commercial director Jonathan Hinkles said: “We’re delighted to be working with Royal Mail and Highlands and Islands Airports to achieve this important change. The new jobs are good news for the local economy, while the consolidated operation is good news for the environment and customers.”