This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Investment for Islay Airport
20/09/2002
Deputy Minister for Enterprise, Transport and Lifelong
Learning, Lewis Macdonald today welcomed an announcement by
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited of further
investment in Islay Airport.
HIAL have unveiled plans for a £400,00 upgrade of the
terminal building at Islay.
This follows work already underway on a £1.8 million
resurfacing of the main runway at Islay Airport which will
extend its life by 25 years.
Mr Macdonald said:
"The recent Spending Review announcement confirmed
record levels of support for HIAL - £91.4m in total over a
three year period. This additional work on the terminal
upgrade builds on a number of improvements being made by
HIAL to improve its services for both the local community
and visitors.
"We are making significant investment in transport links
and services, improving the quality of life for local
communities and business throughout the Highlands and
Islands. The Executive has made over £16 million of
improvements to the transport infrastructure in the Argyll
and Bute area since 1999.
"This latest significant investment by HIAL will also
allow Islay Airport to meet new security requirements.
Islay Airport carried more than 20,000 passengers last year
and plays a significant role in the economy of the island.
This investment will allow major improvements to be made to
the terminal building and the introduction of fully
automated security screening for baggage."
HIAL is main airport operator in the Highlands and
Islands. It operates 10 airports - Barra, Benbecula,
Campbeltown, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway,
Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick. Orkney and Shetland Islands
Councils operate the smaller airstrips within their
areas.