FAQs

Why is Aberdeen such an important airport?
Aberdeen Airport is Scotland’s third busiest airport and an important support base for the North Sea Oil  industry. The City of Aberdeen is the largest oil-related centre in Europe and the airport is Europe's largest commercial heliport, with more than 37,000 rotary wing movements serving around 468,000 helicopter passengers each year.

How many passengers do you handle overall?
Aberdeen Airport currently handles 2.7 million passengers a year. In the past ten years, passenger numbers have increased by 25%. Government forecasts suggest that by 2030, the number of passengers using Aberdeen Airport will have more than doubled, rising to between 4 and 5 million a year.

How many runways does Aberdeen Airport have?
Aberdeen has one fixed wing runway and three helicopter runways, reflecting its role as a transport hub for the North Sea oil industry.

How many destinations do you serve?
Aberdeen Airport serves more than 30 destinations across the UK and Europe.

How many people work at the airport?
Aberdeen Airport directly supports the employment of more than 2,800 people, reflecting its role as a major economic driver for the North East of Scotland.

What are the biggest airlines operating out of Aberdeen Airport?
Aberdeen Airport serves over 35 scheduled and charter passenger airlines, cargo carriers and helicopter companies. Domestic carriers include British Airways, BMI, flybe, Loganair, Air Wales, Eastern Airways, and easyJet. International airlines include Air France, KLM, SAS, Air Malta, Braathens, Ryanair and Monarch.

What about holiday flights?
Charter airlines include Spanair, Air Europa, My Travel and Iberworld. Popular holday destinations include Tenerife, Palma, Las Palmas, Alicante and Malaga. The airport is currently working to grow and develop its share of the charter market.

What are Aberdeen’s most popular destinations?
The most popular country is the Netherlands, with top destinations including Amsterdam, Paris, Stavanger, Dublin, Bergen, Copenhagen and Esbjerg, Denmark. Aberdeen’s top domestic destinations include Manchester, Norwich, Birmingham, Belfast City and the London airports.

What are you doing to secure new services?
BAA Scotland, the company which owns Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh airports, has a dedicated route development team in place. We recognise that passengers prefer to fly direct from Scotland and we are currently in talks with a number of airlines about the possibility of adding new domestic and international routes from Aberdeen. In 2002, BAA Scotland introduced a £60 million Route Development Fund in a bid to increase the number of international flights available from Scotland. In 2004, the fund was increased to £95 million.

How do you physically promote Aberdeen as a potential destination?
The airport works closely with Aberdeen City Council, Aberdeenshire Council, business leaders and the local tourist board to promote Aberdeen as a business and leisure destination. We have recently established an Airport Business Development Forum which works to promote the development of Aberdeen Airport, the expansion of aviation-related business generated by the airport, and to maximise the economic benefits to the North East of Scotland. The Forum works closely with the business community and transport groups to identify potential new routes from Aberdeen and better promote the North East’s business and tourism potential. In a short time, it has succeeded in fashioning a more cohesive approach to route development, and has helped foster a stronger regional identity for the area.

What is the economic value of the airport to the local region?
A report by the prestigious Fraser of Allander Institute showed that under BAA’s leadership and management, Aberdeen Airport contributes over £482 million to the Scottish economy. As one of the region’s biggest employers, Aberdeen Airport is a major economic contributor to the North East of Scotland.

What do you do to support the local community?
Aberdeen Airport works closely with charities and community groups throughout the region. In 2004, the airport made a substantial donation to the Archie Foundation which was set up to raise £3 million to build a world-class children’s hospital for the North East of Scotland. The airport has also provided financial support to the Alford Centre and Arts Project, which assists people with long-term mental health problems gain practical work experience and training, and the Don Salmon Fisheries Board, which received funding for a new scanner to allow them to count the number of wild salmon in the River Don. Charitable donations have also been made to Bridge of Don Sea Cadets, Stratosphere, Bridge of Don Swimming Club and Grampian MS Therapy Centre. Many of our staff also act as volunteers in their local community – in the past year, staff gave 1812 volunteering hours to community projects and we estimate the financial value of this contribution to be around £30,000 across Scotland.

What does the removal of restrictions on operating hours mean for the future of Aberdeen Airport?
We have welcomed Aberdeen City Council’s decision to lift these restrictions, as have many local business leaders and our airline partners. This decision represents a significant milestone for North East Scotland and for the airport’s ability to market the city to prospective airlines. A number of airlines have already intimated their interest in operating from Aberdeen Airport, following the lifting of these restrictions. We remain mindful, of course, of the concerns of local residents about further expansion and will work hard with our airline partners and our communities to minimise any negative impact as a result of the new arrangements.

What new developments are planned at Aberdeen Airport?
In response to increasing passenger numbers, Aberdeen Airport has introduced significant capital investment, in response to increasing passenger numbers, by doubling investment in terminal and airside facilities to nearly £5 million in 2004. Within the terminal, the check-in area has been transformed with new LCD screens, landside toilets have been refurbished and new retail facilities have been added. Security central search has been relocated to create a larger, brighter search area, and the World Duty Free store has been relocated from the international departure lounge to an anrea acessible by all domestic and international passengers. In order to meet forecast growth in passenger numbers, additional terminal capacity will be required for check-in, baggage processing, baggage reclaim, departure lounges and boarding gate facilities. The first phase of this development programme, a £3 million 833sq metre extension to the Common Departure Lounge, has recently started and is expected to be complete by Spring 2006. Further developments will include a £5 million expansion of facilities in the airport’s international zone, including additional baggage reclaim belts. A £2.5 million extension of the Northern elevated walkway, incorporating new gate rooms and business lounges, is also proposed. Both developments will commence in 2006.

For information about flights or for general enquiries, call 0870 040 0006.