| Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd. | |
| Type: | Private limited company |
| Foundation: | 1986 |
| Location: | Inverness, Scotland, UK |
| Owner: | Scottish Government |
| Key People: | Inglis Lyon (Managing director) |
| Industry: | Transport |
| Products: | Airport operations and services |
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) (gd|Puirt-adhair na Gàidhealtachd is nan Eilean Earranta) is a company based at Inverness Airport that owns and operates 11 airports in the Scottish Highlands, the Northern Isles and the Western Isles.[1] [2]
It is a private limited company wholly owned by the Scottish Government, and is categorised as Executive Non Departmental Public Body (ENDPB) of the Scottish Government.[3]
Highlands and Islands Airports Limited was incorporated on 4 March 1986 by the Civil Aviation Authority. In 1995, ownership transferred from the CAA to the Secretary of State for Scotland, and to the Scottish Ministers upon devolution.[4]
The company was criticised for a PFI deal signed to build a new terminal at Inverness Airport, which meant that HIAL had to pay £3.50 to the PFI operator for every passenger flying from the airport. In 2006, the PFI deal was cancelled, costing the Scottish Executive £27.5m.[5]
It receives subsidies from public funds under terms of the Civil Aviation Act 1982.[6] For the year ending 31 March 2018, HIAL received £29.2 million of public money, of £20.6m was classed as revenue subsidy, and £8.6m was capital investment.[7]
HIAL operates the following airports:[8]