The first phase of a £2million programme to improve access and security at Aberdeen Airport is complete and open to members of the public.

The new ‘dedicated drop-off’ section has been unveiled, allowing passengers flying from the airport to be dropped-off, close to the entrance to the terminal.

The ‘no waiting’ restrictions – in place at the original drop-off area outside the terminal building, prior to the incident at Glasgow Airport last year - will continue to apply in the new drop-off zone.

Work on further phases of the investment programme is continuing. The airport anticipates new traffic management measures, automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) systems and security bollards will be in place by early 2009.

The area previously used as the inner forecourt will be open only to pedestrians, to improve ease of access for the travelling public.

By summer next year, a new Aberdeen airport car park deck on three levels providing an additional 500 spaces, a new terminal entrance and other improvements including tree planting are also expected to be introduced.

The first anniversary of the Aberdeen airport’s Open Air forum is approaching and airport Managing Director, Kevin Brown, is calling for more City & Shire residents to take part at the informal discussion sessions.

Typically, issues up for discussion include developments and investment at the airport, improvements to passenger facilities, updates on new and anticipated destinations for business and leisure, the infrastructure surrounding the terminal and campus and use of public transport services including taxis and buses.

The Open Air format has also been extended to provide a platform for North East business executives to share their views on the development of the airport.

Kevin Brown said: “The purpose of these meetings is to give members of the public the opportunity to meet with us, share their thoughts or concerns, to learn more about what we’re doing to improve their local airport and to have a real say in its development.

“I would like to thank all those who have been coming along for the events and extend the invitation – we want to hear from more members of the public who have thoughts and ideas about their local airport and how it can provide an even better service.”

Open Air sessions are held at the airport every four to six weeks and access to the forum has been improved with the introduction of a new, dedicated email address. To request an invitation to the session, email openair_aberdeen@baa.com and you will receive a reply as soon as possible.

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Ouch, it seems that credit crunch is beginning to bite at BA’s UK airports.

Figures just released show that overall the airports handled a total of 13.3 million passengers in September – a decrease of 5% when compared with September 2007.

The largest drop in passenger traffic was at Glasgow Airport where passenger numbers fell by 11% compared with September 2007. This huge reduction was largely down to the collapse of XL and Zoom. BAA’s other Scottish airports both reported a fall in numbers: Aberdeen Airport down 4.2% and Edinburgh Airport down 2.9%.

Of BAA’s English airports, Stansted saw passenger numbers drop by 4.7%, Southampton airport down 4% and Heathrow airport saw a decrease of 3.6%. Gatwick airport reported an overall drop of 6.8% resulting from a 44% decrease in  North Atlantic traffic and an increase of 8.8% in European scheduled traffic - attributed to the introduction of the ‘Open Skies’ agreement.

It will soon be possible to fly from Aberdeen airport to Oslo, after Eastern Airways announced their new service to Norway’s capital.

The new Aberdeen flights will operate daily (except Saturdays) from 12 January 2009 using a 50-seater Saab 2000 aircraft.

Eastern Airways currently offers 11 destinations from Aberdeen.

Flyglobespan is to operate a charter flight from Aberdeen airport to Tenerife this winter on behalf of Thomas Cook.

The airline will operate the weekly Sunday flight in order to protect hundreds of passengers from the Aberdeen area who were booked onto flights operated by Spanish airline Futura International Airlines, which filed for administration on Monday.

Commenting on the announcement, flyglobespan CEO Rick Green said, “We are pleased that we have been able to step into help these Aberdeen passengers, who could have otherwise found themselves stranded, or their long awaited holidays cancelled.

“Unfortunately, operating this Sunday flight has meant that we can no longer launch the new route we planned from Aberdeen to Lanzarote, which is disappointing. However, we feel that with our two other exciting new winter flights to Gran Canaria and Sharm el Sheikh on sale today, in addition to our existing routes to Tenerife and Malaga, people from the local area are well served for winter sun holidays. We are confident this is the right decision for the people of Aberdeen”.

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Flyglobespan has announced three brand new direct routes from Aberdeen airport this winter.

The new Aberdeen flights will operate weekly to Sharm el Sheikh (Wednesdays, from 17 December to 27 May), Lanzarote (Sundays, from 21 December to 29 March) and Gran Canaria (Mondays, from 22 December to 30 March).

Commenting on the new flights, Rick Green CEO of flyglobespan said, “We have carried out extensive research which found that locals to Aberdeen airport want a greater choice of direct flights to winter sun destinations. We are putting our faith in the fact that customers will therefore snap up these exciting new flights and packages.”

The announcement of these new flights means that the airline will base an aircraft at Aberdeen airport throughout the year.

for up-to-date Aberdeen airport information and to book Aberdeen airport parking and Aberdeen airport hotels click on the links.

Construction work has started on the first phase of a £10 million International Arrivals improvement programme at Aberdeen Airport.

Phase One of the project includes a new segregated international walkway – a heated double walkway which will separate arriving and departing passengers – and expanded aircraft parking stands.

The work is expected to be completed by early next year.

Phases Two and Three will see a major extension of the International Arrivals Hall with improvements to Passport Control, Baggage Reclaim and a significant increase in floor space to reduce congestion.

For up-to-date Aberdeen airport information and to book Aberdeen airport parking and Aberdeen airport hotels click on the links.

Staff at the Aberdeen airport have been invited to dust off their Tartan togs to mark the annual event and to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

The official Tartan Day will be marked on Saturday August 2 with the Deeside Caledonia Pipe Band in action at the airport during the morning.

However on both Friday and Saturday, office staff are being invited to donate £2 to wear Tartan clothing, while operational staff will be able to buy Tartan ribbons for £1. All funds will go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) which the airport is supporting.

Members of the airport team will be rattling collection boxes in the terminal on both days, inviting passengers travelling to and from the airport to spare some change in aid of the JDRF, while a display will be available with decorations kindly loaned from Alex Scott & Co (Kiltmakers) Ltd.

In addition, several teams of airport staff have committed themselves to take part in the JDRF’s fundraising walk in the city’s Hazlehead Park on Sunday September 14.

Marketing manager, Claire Burt said: “We’re really excited about marking Tartan Day and being able to support the JDRF and its very worthwhile work at the same time.

“Tartan Day is a celebration of the rich, colourful culture and heritage that exists in this part of the world and its great to be able to give our passengers a taste of what the North East has to offer.”

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is the only charitable organisation in the world with the primary objective of finding the cure for type 1 diabetes and its complications. It was founded by a small group of parents of children with type 1 diabetes who believe insulin injections are not the cure for this life threatening condition. Visit www.jdrf.org.uk for more information.

A four-day noise monitoring exercise is to be carried out from today around Aberdeen Airport.

Sites to be monitored include: Gilbert Road, Bucksburn; Greenburn Road, Bucksburn; Cordyce View, Dyce; Union Row, Dyce; Dyce Drive, Overton and Newton Farm, Kirkhill.

The noise monitoring is an annual requirement of the planning consent given in 2005 allowing 24 hour operations at Aberdeen.

For up-to-date Aberdeen airport information and to book Aberdeen airport parking using an online parking price checker click on the links.

BAA, which owns and operates Aberdeen Airport, Edinburgh Airport and Glasgow Airport, has welcomed a report from a group of MSPs calling for extra marketing support for airlines flying in to Scotland.

Gordon Dewar, managing director of Glasgow and acting MD of Edinburgh Airport, said: “Aviation is an integral part of the social and economic life of our country, delivering thousands of high quality jobs, generating investment and sustaining our tourist industry, now, more than ever, the lifeblood of our economy.

We have made it clear that we believe there is a strong case for some form of EU-compliant marketing support fund and argued strongly for this in our evidence to the committee. Since 2002 BAA Scotland has invested in excess of £110 million in route development support for airlines starting new direct international services. This work has transformed Scotland’s international connectivity. We would welcome any additional support which builds on this success for the benefit of business and leisure travellers.

“The worldwide airline industry is entering a difficult phase, with many carriers reducing capacity or scaling back expansion plans as a result of rising fuel prices and the impact of the credit crunch. We are working hard to support our airlines, in partnership with organisations such as VisitScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau. Any additional support would be welcome.”