Wikipedia

Kirkwall Airport

Kirkwall Airport (IATA: KOI, ICAO: EGPA) (Scottish Gaelic: Port-adhair Bhaile na h-Eaglais) is the main airport serving Orkney in Scotland. It is located 2.5 NM (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) southeast of Kirkwall[1] and is owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. The airport is used by Loganair.

Kirkwall Airport

Port-adhair Bhaile na h-Eaglais
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorHIAL
ServesMainland, Orkney
LocationKirkwall
Hub forLoganair
Elevation AMSL58 ft / 18 m
Coordinates58°57′29″N 002°54′02″W / 58.95806°N 2.90056°W / 58.95806; -2.90056
WebsiteKirkwall Airport
Map
EGPA is located in Orkney Islands
EGPA
EGPA
Location in Orkney
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 1,428 4,685 Grooved asphalt
14/32 680 2,231 Asphalt
Statistics (2022)
Passengers133,410
Passenger change 2021–22Increase 56%
Aircraft movements9,876
Movements change 2021–22Increase 18%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

History edit

Foundation edit

The airport was built and commissioned in 1940 as RAF Grimsetter for the defence of the Scapa Flow naval base. In 1943, the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm took over, as RNAS Grimsetter then HMS Robin. Control passed in 1948 to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and in 1986 to Highlands and Islands Airports.[3]

Royal Air Force edit

The following RAF units were here at some point:

Royal Navy edit

On 6 July 1943, RAF Grimsetter was transferred on loan to the Admiralty and known as Royal Naval Air Station Grimsetter (RNAS Grimsetter). On 15 August, it was commissioned as HMS Robin, as a satellite to RNAS Hatston (HMS Sparrowhawk),[8] located 1 mi (1.6 km) to the north west of Kirkwall.

The following Fleet Air Arm units were here at some point:[9]

Green energy edit

Hydrogen production by electrolysis of water was well under way in late 2020 in Orkney, where clean energy sources (wind, waves, tides) were generating excess electricity that could be used to produce hydrogen gas (H2).[10] A plan was under way at Kirkwall Airport to add a hydrogen combustion engine system to the heating system in order to reduce the significant emissions that were created with older technology that heated buildings and water. This was part of the plan formulated by the Scottish government for the Highlands and Islands "to become the world's first net zero aviation region by 2040".[11]

Airlines and destinations edit

Passenger edit

The following airlines operate regular scheduled flights to and from Kirkwall:

AirlinesDestinations
Loganair[12] Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Sumburgh

Cargo edit

AirlinesDestinations
Royal Mail[13] Aberdeen, Sumburgh, Inverness

Statistics and traffic edit

Annual traffic statistics edit

Annual passenger traffic at KOI airport. See Wikidata query.
Traffic statistics at Kirkwall[14]
Year Passengers handled Aircraft movements
No. % change No. % change
2015 160,234   10,701  
2016 163,029   1.7% 11,045   3.2%
2017 177,248   9% 14,754   8.7%
2018 181,562   2.4% 14,771   0.1%
2019 171,603   5.9% 14,247   3.5%
2020 63,113   63.2% 9,498   33.3%
2021 85,665   35.7% 9,574   17.0%
2022 133,410   56.0% 9,876   18.0%

Busiest routes edit

Busiest routes to and from Kirkwall (2022)[15]
Rank Airport Passengers handled Change
2021–2022
1 Aberdeen 40,953   38.5%
2 Edinburgh 33,119   158.5%
3 Glasgow 15,813   123.3%
4 Sumburgh 7,727   22.1%
5 Inverness 5,772   113.6%
6 North Ronaldsay 5,531   10.1%
7 Papa Westray 4,595   16.3%
8 Westray 3,216   15.6%
9 Sanday 3,002   17.7%
10 Stronsay 2,995   14.7%
11 Eday 302   2.0%

Accidents and incidents edit

 
The Viscount G-BGYZ damaged 1979 at Kirkwall seen in Stuttgart, May 1979
  • 25 October 1979 – A Vickers Viscount G-BFYZ of Alidair was damaged beyond economic repair when the aircraft departed the runway after #4 propeller struck the runway. The nosewheel collapsed when the aircraft reached an intersecting runway.[16]

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ a b "Kirkwall – EGPA". Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 30 December 2008.
  2. ^ "UK airport data". UK Civil Aviation Authority. 21 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
  3. ^ "Kirkwall Airport: About Us". Highlands and Islands Airports. Archived from the original on 18 August 2010. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  5. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 59.
  6. ^ Jefford 1988, p. 75.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w "Grimsetter (Kirkwall)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  8. ^ "R.N.A.S. Grimsetter". Royal Navy Research Archive - Fleet Air Arm Bases 1939 - present day. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  9. ^ Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 365.
  10. ^ "How hydrogen is transforming these tiny Scottish islands". BBC News. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Green hydrogen set to decarbonise airport". Hydrogen East. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  12. ^ hial.co.uk - Destinations from Kirkwall Airport retrieved 9 March 2024
  13. ^ "Loganair secures new Royal Mail contract". BBC News. 31 January 2017.
  14. ^ "Airport data 2020 | UK Civil Aviation Authority". caa.co.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Annual airport data 2022 | Civil Aviation Authority".
  16. ^ "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 October 2009.

Bibliography edit

  • Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.

External links edit


 

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