Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) has confirmed its intention to scale back air traffic modernisation plans, in response to the funding challenges facing the country.
HIAL’s management team presented a paper to the board at its meeting at the end of August highlighting the impact of the "considerable gap" between the funding available and the company’s operational and strategic plans, including its air traffic modernisation proposals.
At the start of this year, plans to introduce remote control towers at some island airports were dropped following strikes and opposition from local communities.
HIAL said there will be a centralised surveillance operation for Sumburgh, Kirkwall, Stornoway, Inverness and Dundee airports, based at its existing approach radar facility on the Inverness airport site, with air traffic tower services continuing to be provided locally.
Air traffic controllers took strike action last year over HIAL’s previous plan, which was to centralise operations in Inverness and introduce remote integrated air traffic control services for Inverness, Dundee, Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh airports.
HIAL chair Lorna Jack said: "Like many other businesses, HIAL must reappraise priorities and spending options and make difficult decisions based on the extraordinary circumstances we are all facing as global economic pressures impact our day-to-day activities and our future plans.
"The board is considering several options to help address the current fiscal position and decided one of the options will be to scale back air traffic modernisation plans for the duration of the strategic spending review.
"The board remains in dialogue with Transport Scotland regarding the reduction of funding and its effect on frontline service delivery."
Separately, Jamie Manson will join HIAL as its new finance director on 17 October.
He joins from being the executive manager for finance at Shetland Islands Council, having started his career in the Department of Work and Pensions as a trainee accountant in 2007, before becoming a senior finance business partner in 2013.
Manson will have an office at Sumburgh Airport and will split his time between Shetland and head office at Inverness.
Inglis Lyon, HIAL’s managing director said: "His extensive knowledge and experience in public finance will not only contribute significantly to HIAL’s future strategy but will assist us with the challenges we currently face as we continue to recover from the effects of Covid."
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