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Islay Airport

Coordinates: 55°41′00″N 006°15′35″W / 55.68333°N 6.25972°W / 55.68333; -6.25972
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Islay Airport

Port-adhair Ìle
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorHIAL
ServesIslay
LocationIslay, Argyll and Bute
Elevation AMSL56 ft / 17 m
Coordinates55°41′00″N 006°15′35″W / 55.68333°N 6.25972°W / 55.68333; -6.25972
Websitewww.hial.co.uk/islay-airport
Map
EGPI is located in Argyll and Bute
EGPI
EGPI
Location in Scotland
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
13/31 1,545 5,069 Asphalt
08/26 635 2,083 Asphalt
Statistics (2018)
Passengers32,775
Passenger change 17-18Increase0.4%
Aircraft Movements2,751
Movements change 17–18Increase4.3%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

Islay Airport (IATA: ILY, ICAO: EGPI) (also known as Glenegedale Airport) is located 4.5 nautical miles (8.3 kilometres; 5.2 statute miles) north-northwest of Port Ellen[1] on the island of Islay in Argyll and Bute, off the west coast of Scotland. It is a small rural airport owned and maintained by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. Today the airport is used for scheduled services to the Scottish mainland, and for air ambulances.

History

The first airports were built in Islay in the 1930s, although these were just grass strips. In 1940, during the Second World War, the Prime Minister, Winston Churchill ordered military airfields to be constructed in the western islands of Scotland, both to defend against a German assault on the Scottish mainland and also to provide reconnaissance planes a base to fly missions over the Atlantic Ocean. The present Islay airport was constructed as RAF Port Ellen in 1940, and received a concrete runway in 1942. During the Second World War, over 1,500 Royal Air Force (RAF) personnel were stationed at RAF Port Ellen.[3]

The following units were here at some point:[4]

On 29 June 1994, the Prince of Wales made headlines when he overshot the runway while landing a BAe 146 of No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron of the RAF on the runway of the airport. Although no one was injured, the plane was badly damaged.[7][8]

Airlines and destinations

AirlinesDestinations
Hebridean Air ServicesColonsay, Obana
Loganair Glasgow
Notes

Statistics

Annual passenger traffic at ILY airport. See Wikidata query.
Busiest routes to and from Islay Airport in 2018[9]
Rank Airport Passengers handled 2017-2018 Change
1  Scotland - Glasgow 32,763 Increase0.6%

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b Islay - EGPI
  2. ^ "PROVISIONAL CAA AIRPORT STATISTICS FOR DECEMBER 2015" (PDF). UK Civil Aviation Authority. 22 January 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 8 February 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  3. ^ Shaw, Robbie (January–February 2015). "Serving the Southern Hebrides". Airports of the World. No. 57. Key Publishing Ltd. pp. 80–83.
  4. ^ "Port Ellen (Glenegedale) (Islay)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
  5. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 233.
  6. ^ Sturtivant, Hamlin & Halley 1997, p. 116.
  7. ^ Prince gives up flying royal aircraft
  8. ^ Official report [archive.org]
  9. ^ "Airport data 2018 | UK Civil Aviation Authority".

Bibliography

  • Sturtivant, R; Hamlin, J; Halley, J (1997). Royal Air Force flying training and support units. UK: Air-Britain (Historians). ISBN 0-85130-252-1.
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