FAQs
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We expect to handle 8,800 tonnes of cargo a year at Aberdeen Airport by 2030.
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 and gas industry. The City of Aberdeen is the largest oil-related centre in Europe and the airport is Europe's largest commercial heliport, serving over 500,000 helicopter passengers each year.
How many passengers do you handle overall?
Aberdeen Airport currently handles 3.3 million passengers a year. This compares to 2.6 million, ten years ago. 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 and gas industry.
How many destinations do you serve?
Aberdeen Airport serves around 40 destinations across the UK and Europe.
How many people work at the airport?
Aberdeen Airport directly supports the employment of more than 2,900 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 20 scheduled and charter passenger airlines, cargo carriers and helicopter companies. Domestic carriers include British Airways, BMI, flybe, Loganair, Eastern Airways, and easyJet. International airlines include Air France, KLM, SAS, Wideroe and Ryanair.
What about holiday flights?
Charter airlines include Spanair, Air Europa, My Travel and Iberworld. Popular holiday 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 and Copenhagen. Aberdeen’s top domestic destinations include Manchester, Norwich, Birmingham, Southampton 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 our focus in recent years has been to grow the number of direct diresitnatons available from our Scottish airports. To support this growth, we have reduced landing fees, in real terms, every year for the past 15 years and put in place a dedicated route development fund, worth £20 million in 2008.
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 do you do to support the local community?
Aberdeen Airport works closely with charities and community groups throughout the region. Many of our staff also act as volunteers in their local community – donating their time to assist local projects.
What new developments are planned at Aberdeen Airport?
BAA has invested record sums at Aberdeen Airport in recent years, including some £50 million in the last five years alone. BAA's investment has transformed Aberdeen Airport, creating a facility of which the city and shire can be proud, and increasing the range of business and leisure destinations now available from the north-east. But we know that we cannot afford to rest on our laurels. That is why, in 2009, BAA will invest a further £15 million on terminal and airfield improvements at Aberdeen. Longer term, BAA plans to invest more than £30 million over the next five years; investment that will be delivered at no cost to north-east taxpayers.
For information about flights or for general enquiries, call +44 (0)844 481 6666.

