Highlands and Islands Airports

Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd.
Company typePrivate limited company
IndustryTransport
Founded1986
HeadquartersInverness, Scotland, UK
Key people
Inglis Lyon (Managing director)
ProductsAirport operations and services
OwnerScottish Government
Websitewww.hial.co.uk

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) (Scottish Gaelic: Puirt-adhair na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean Earranta) is a company based at Inverness Airport that owns and operates 11 airports in the Scottish Highlands, the Northern Isles and the Western Isles.[1][2]

It is a private limited company wholly owned by the Scottish Government, and is categorised as Executive Non Departmental Public Body (ENDPB) of the Scottish Government.[3]

History

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited was incorporated on 4 March 1986 by the Civil Aviation Authority. In 1995, ownership transferred from the CAA to the Secretary of State for Scotland, and to the Scottish Ministers upon devolution.[4]

The company was criticised for a PFI deal signed to build a new terminal at Inverness Airport, which meant that HIAL had to pay £3.50 to the PFI operator for every passenger flying from the airport. In 2006, the PFI deal was cancelled, costing the Scottish Executive £27.5m.[5]

Funding

It receives subsidies from public funds under terms of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.[6] For the year ending 31 March 2018, HIAL received £29.2 million of public money, of £20.6m was classed as revenue subsidy, and £8.6m was capital investment.[7]

Airports

PSO-operated G-HIAL on sand at Barra Airport

HIAL operates the following airports:[8]

References

  1. ^ "HIGHLANDS AND ISLANDS AIRPORTS LIMITED overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk.
  2. ^ Bell, Ryan. "About the Group". Highlands and Islands Airports Limited.
  3. ^ "National public bodies directory - Executive non-departmental public bodies". Scottish Government. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  4. ^ "Our Company Values & History". Archived from the original on 1 January 2021.
  5. ^ "Deal to buy out airport terminal". BBC News. 20 January 2006.
  6. ^ "About Us". Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Annual Report 2017-18" (PDF). Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. p. 8. Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  8. ^ "HIAL- Airports". Archived from the original on 12 June 2007.