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Chapter 9 AIR TRANSPORT
1. Introduction
1.1 This chapter provides information on air transport, such as passenger numbers by origin, destination, and type of service, amount of freight carried, air transport movements, and income and expenditure figures of airline authorities.
1.2 Campbeltown airport began reporting in April 1996. At present, only Tables 9.1, 9.2 and 9.3 include figures for Campbeltown - it is hoped that figures will be included in other tables in the next edition.
2. Main Points
2.1 Air terminal passengers rose by 6% in 1998 over the previous year, to 15.2 million. Over the ten years from 1988 to 1998, terminal passengers have increased by 79%. (Table 9.1)
2.2 There were almost 6.5 million terminal passengers at Glasgow airport in 1998, an 8% increase on the previous year. Edinburgh airport had 4.5 million (up 9%) and there were over 2.6 million at Aberdeen airport (up 3%). Together these three airports accounted for almost 90% of the total. Over the past ten years, the increases at these airports were: Edinburgh 119%; Glasgow 78%; and Aberdeen 65%. (Table 9.1)
2.3 In 1998, 7% of all terminal passenger traffic was to/from other Scottish airports, 57% was to/from other parts of the UK, and 24% was between Scotland and Europe, of which almost two-thirds was to/from Glasgow Airport. (Table 9.2)
2.4 Looking at the numbers of passengers on selected domestic routes, London Heathrow accounts for about half of those travelling to or from both Edinburgh and Glasgow and almost a third of those travelling to or from Aberdeen. London Gatwick accounts for over half of those travelling to or from Inverness. (It should be noted that the table does not cover all domestic routes - it excludes some of the smaller domestic routes.) (Table 9.4)
2.5 Air freight carried in 1998 rose by 14% on the previous year to over 72,000 tonnes. The principal causes of this increase were that freight at Glasgow was 33% higher at over 14,700 tonnes, and a 17% increase at Prestwick, to over 39,500 tonnes. There was a 10% increase of freight through Edinburgh: at over 8,800 tonnes, it was more than eight times the amount for 1988 (Table 9.5)
2.7 The total number of aircraft movements in 1998 was about 489,000. Aberdeen had the highest number of aircraft movements with around 115,000, of which 84% were commercial movements, and aircraft movements at both Glasgow and Edinburgh in 1998 were just over 100,000 each. (Table 9.6)
2.8 As a result of the Windfall Tax levied on BAA in 1997-98, BAA’s operating profit for the three main airports (Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow) decreased by 14% on the previous year to £35.4 million. The operating profit in 1997-98 at Glasgow was £15.2 million, at Edinburgh £11.2 million, and at Aberdeen £9.0 million. (Table 9.11)
3. Notes and Definitions
3.1 Aircraft Movement: an aircraft take-off or landing at an airport: one arrival and one departure are counted as two movements. Air transport movements are landings or take-offs of aircraft engaged in the transport of passengers or cargo on commercial terms. All scheduled service movements, whether loaded, empty or positioning; and charter movements transporting passengers or cargo and air taxi movements are included.
3.2 Terminal Passenger: a passenger joining or leaving an aircraft at the reporting airport. A passenger travelling between 2 reporting airports is counted twice, once at each airport. A Transit passenger is one who arrives at and departs from a reporting airport on the same aircraft which is transiting the airport. Each transit passenger is counted once only.
3.3 Freight: the weight of property carried out on an aircraft including, for example the weight of vehicles, excess baggage, and diplomatic bags, but excluding mail and passengers’ and crews’ permitted luggage. Cargo in transit through the airport on the same aircraft is excluded.
3.4 International Services: services flown between the United Kingdom, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, and places outside.
4. Sources
4.1 Tables 9.1 to 9.9 are compiled from information supplied by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
4.2 Tables 9.10 and 9.11 are compiled from information supplied by airport authorities and by UK airlines.
5. Further Information
5.1 Further information on UK civil aviation is available in the CAA’s regular publications.
5.2 For further information on UK civil aviation contact Mrs D McLean of the Civil Aviation Authority (tel: 0171 832 6143)
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