The managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports (Hial) said yesterday he believed the energy sector’s growing importance in the north would open up opportunities for the company’s terminals.
Inglis Lyon said he wanted Hial to be on hand for renewables firms requiring aviation support in the north, as well as fight for more helicopter contracts for offshore workers travelling from Shetland.
Mr Lyon also indicated there could be potential new destinations in Europe for people in the Highlands.
Hial has 11 airports at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Inverness, Islay, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Sumburgh, Tiree, Wick and Dundee.
Mr Lyon said the energy industry offered Hial a huge opportunity and said the firm was “in a great position to capitalise on it”.
He said: “Kirkwall and Wick are being promoted as renewable centres because of the Pentland Firth, and we are speaking to one company which will base itself in one of those areas to see what we can offer them.
“There is also a lot of work being done at Scrabster in Caithness by tidal and wind energy companies and we have already contacted many of them to see if there is anywhere we can add value in the process.”
Mr Lyon added most of the offshore workers travelling through Shetland used Scatsta Airport, but said he was keen for Hial to win more contracts for Sumburgh Airport.
“We are talking to a couple of oil and gas companies and we are chasing it quite hard – there is definitely business to be won there,” he said.
Mr Lyon said the route introduced last year between Inverness and Amsterdam’s international hub, Schiphol Airport, had opened the world up to Highland holidaymakers, but he said further services were in the pipeline.
He added: “We are looking at a number of frequency improvements for this year and looking at some winter sun destinations on the charter programme.
“We are also working with some airlines on further European destinations by analysing where people are flying to from other airports.”