Scottish airports operator HIAL says there is little appetite among airlines for expansion into “new and unproven locations”, but stressed attempts continue to attract new services to Dundee.
The performance of the HIAL-managed airstrip at Riverside has been in the spotlight since The Courier revealed last month that it handled fewer passengers in December than the outer Hebridean outpost of Benbecula.
New figures published by the group on Monday showed Dundee’s situation, which was prompted by the withdrawal of two scheduled flights to Belfast and Birmingham, remained unchanged throughout January.
A total of 2,186 passengers passed through the airport during the month 144 more than in December but 47.4% down compared with the same month a year ago.
Numbers were also down at Inverness, Campbeltown, Islay and Tiree due to schedule changes resulting in fewer aircraft movements.
There were major uplifts for Sumburgh and Wick John o’ Groats up 94% and 69% respectively on a year-on-year basis due to increased demand for flights brought about by the upturn in the oil and gas sector.
In total, HIAL’s 11 Scottish airports handled 84,981 passengers last month, 9.1% up on the figure achieved a year ago.
HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said he was pleased that overall passenger growth had been achieved in what remained a challenging economic climate.
“These figures represent a good start to 2013, not least in our most northerly airports where increased energy activity is fuelling a significant increase in business traffic and helicopter movements.
“Elsewhere in the group, growth was more modest, partly a reflection of winter schedule changes.
“Nevertheless, the overall trend shows that growth is continuing, which is obviously encouraging given the still fragile nature of the economy.”
Turning to the situation at Dundee, Mr Lyon said efforts were being made to identify potential new operators for the airport, but stressed there would be no immediate resolution to the problem.
He said: “We are actively talking to potential operators and working very hard to promote Dundee as a business and leisure gateway.
“However, as I have made clear in the past, it will take time to achieve results.
“The domestic market remains challenging and airlines have little appetite to expand into new and unproven locations.”