Airport operator shelves plan for car parking charges at Sumburgh

Plans to implement car parking charges at Sumburgh airport have been shelved for now.

Highlands and Islands Airport (HIAL) chairman Grenville Johnston said that while the current budget was under “severe pressure” following a £1.1million cut from the Scottish government, the company has “no definite plans” to introduce the charges.

Mr Johnston said the charges would continue to be seen as a “possible source of income” but added: “As I sit here we have no plans to start the car parking charges.”

The issue was first raised in November 2009 with the announcement of plans for charges at Kirkwall and Dundee airports to help cover a £1million budget shortfall.

Opposition to the plans was strong across the Highlands and Islands.

HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said: “What we’ve done is we’ve balanced the budget without any car parking charges being taken into account, but the decision is always under review.”

Chairman of the Sumburgh Airport consultative committee Jimmy Smith said he was “delighted” the plans had been postponed but expected the issue would be raised in the future.

Mr Smith said: “I don’t think it’s gone away. I’m delighted [the charges] haven’t been implemented and hopefully they won’t bring it up again this year, but they’ll look at it again.”