News / Government cash to refurbish airport
THE SCOTTISH government is to pump £6.5 million into refurbishing Sumburgh airport, transport minister Derek Mackay announced during a flying visit to the isles on Thursday.
The airport terminal, which has seen little work carried out since it opened in the 1970s to cope with oil industry related traffic, is to be reclad and the check in and security sections are to be revamped.
Money will also be spent on upgrading the control tower and the fire station.
Airport manager Nigel Flaws said the project is currently in the design stage and work is expected to start during the next financial year, and take around three years to complete.
“It’s difficult to put a final figure on the actual cost, but we certainly welcome the additional £6.5 million from the government, which is fantastic news for Sumburgh and for Shetland,” he said.
Sumburgh airport has seen a huge increase in passenger throughput over the past two years since Shetland started to experience its second oil boom, it being the main airport used by Eastern Airways under contract to Petrofac who are building the new gas plant at Sullom Voe.
Mackay said: “This is an essential airport for islanders, and for the wider economy – not just oil and gas, but also tourism.”
Separate to the funding announcement, Mackay said he was encouraging Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd and Shetland Islands Council to find an “amicable settlement” in the long running dispute over the flawed runway extension at the airport.
HIAL is suing the SIC for more than £14 million for an alleged breach of contract over the £10 million runway extension, which the council designed and contracted for.
Mackay said: “We are looking for an amicable solution and we need not engage the legal process any further if we have a settlement around a figure, and that is a negotiating process.
“I think we will reach that agreement, so hopefully we will have a positive outcome sooner rather than later.”
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