HIAL unveils £55m air terminal option
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A brand new airport terminal for Inverness is being considered as one of the options to help the Highlands' busiest air hub cope with a projected increase in annual passenger numbers to 1.8 million by 2045.
The proposed new building, which would occupy a different site from the current terminal and would cost up to £55 million, is one of four expansion options under consideration by airport operator Highlands and Islands Ltd (HIAL), which is calling for the public to have a say in how Inverness Airport develops to meet the challenges of the mid-21st century.
If the option for a new terminal is approved, it would be built to the south of the runway and next to the planned Inverness Airport Railway Station, which is a mile away from the existing terminal. It could also be designed to cater for future growth without any disruption to existing terminal operations.
However, it would involve expenditure of between £33.7 and £54.8 million.
The other three options involve the extension of the current 22-year old terminal by between 70 and 90 metres. Depending on the option chosen, this could vary in cost between £18.9 and £31.3 million.
Other proposals include extending the runway to allow the airport to cater for flights to further afield destinations such as the Canary Islands.
All the potential options are outlined in the Inverness Airport 2020 to 2045 master plan, which can be viewed on the HIAL website, and the public is being encouraged to get in touch with their comments.
Although the plan was in development before the Covid-19 pandemic and HIAL acknowledges the downturn in aviation will continue in the short to medium term, it expects a return to the rapid growth of recent years.
The plan states: "In recent years it has become clear that the terminal has become increasingly constrained in several areas. Car parking and surface access requirements are evolving and the demand is increasing. Opportunities are being missed with respect to airfield developments that will allow the airport to grow."
Inverness Airport general manager, Graeme Bell, said: “The draft master plan has been developed using local feedback and sets out how Inverness Airport will recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and continue to grow over a 25-year period from 2020 to 2045.
“Recent years have seen significant growth across our airport and whilst Covid-19 has certainly had a severe impact on the aviation industry, we expect it will recover in the short to medium term.
“We have conducted a traffic forecast exercise that indicates the airport will continue to thrive post-Covid, predominantly through further expansion of the UK market and a modest growth of international passengers.
“The concepts presented within the plan have been designed to provide intuitive passenger flows that will enable fast-track movement of business and frequent travellers and walk-through retail space to enhance the commercial experience."
Mr Bell added that sustainability would be an important focus of any development.
“As we move towards a net zero, decarbonised society, we continue to work closely with the local community to ensure we deliver our plans with minimal impact on the environment whilst providing appropriate facilities for our passengers, colleagues and businesses alike,” he said.
HIAL has already begun a consultation period on the proposals, which will run until Sunday February 28.
Responses can be made via the Inverness Airport website, www.invernessairport.co.uk, where the public can access a copy of the plan and feedback forms.
Feedback can also be made by writing to: Inverness Airport Master Plan Feedback, Inverness Airport, Dalcross, Inverness IV2 7JB.
Following the consultation period, HIAL will publish a report summarising the feedback provided by the consultees and this will be used to discuss any changes or additional measures.
