Highlands and Islands Airports

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]

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

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

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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

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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

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PSO-operated G-HIAL on sand at Barra Airport

HIAL operates the following airports:[8]

References

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  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.
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