Aberdeen/Dyce Airport
Port-adhair Obar Dheathain
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]
| Aberdeen Airport Aberdeen/Dyce Airport Port-adhair Obar Dheathain |
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| IATA: ABZ – ICAO: EGPD | |||
| Summary | |||
| Airport type | Public | ||
| Owner/Operator | BAA | ||
| Serves | Aberdeen | ||
| Location | Dyce | ||
| Elevation AMSL | 215 ft / 66 m | ||
| Coordinates | Coordinates: | ||
| Website | |||
| Runways | |||
| Direction | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| 16/34 | 1,829 | 6,001 | Asphalt |
| Helipads | |||
| Number | Length | Surface | |
| m | ft | ||
| H05/H23 | 476 | 1,562 | Asphalt |
| H14/H32 | 581 | 1,906 | Asphalt |
| H36 | 260 | 853 | Asphalt |
| Statistics (2007) | |||
| Passengers | 3,412,257 | ||
| Movements | 121,927 | ||
| Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1] Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2] |
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Aberdeen Airport (IATA: ABZ, ICAO: EGPD) is located in Dyce, approximately 5 NM (9.3 km; 5.8 mi) northwest of Aberdeen city centre.[1] 3.41 million passengers used Aberdeen Airport in 2007, an increase of 7.8% compared with 2006.[2] The airport was the third busiest airport in Scotland, and sixth busiest in the UK by number of flight movements in 2007.[2]
The airport is owned and operated by BAA, which also owns and operates six other UK airports,[3] and is itself owned by an international consortium led by the Spanish Ferrovial Group.[4]
Aberdeen Airport is the hub of bmi Regional (a subsidiary of bmi) and Eastern Airways, as well as being a focus city of Flyglobespan. The Airport also serves as the main heliport for the United Kingdom's offshore oil industry. Installations serviced directly from Aberdeen stretch from the Argyll field (approx 56°N) to the Bruce field (60°N).
The airport has one main passenger terminal, serving scheduled and charter holiday flights. In addition, there are 3 terminals dedicated to North Sea helicopter operations, used by Bristow Helicopters, CHC-Scotia, and Bond Offshore Helicopters. There is also a small terminal adjacent to the main passenger terminal, Broomfield House, used primarily for oil company charter flights to Scatsta in Shetland, operated by Flightline (UK).
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The airport opened in 1934, established by Eric Gandar Dower, intended to link the northern islands of Scotland with London. During World War II the airfield became an RAF base, and although fighters were based there through the Battle of Britain to provide protection from German bombing raids from Norway, it was mainly used as a photographic reconnaissance base. The airport was nationalised in 1947 and was transferred to the control of the British Airports Authority (BAA) in 1975.
With the discovery of North Sea oil, helicopter operations began in 1967, linking the growing number of oil rigs to the mainland. As Aberdeen became the largest oil-related centre in Europe, the airport became the world's largest commercial heliport. Today, Aberdeen Airport handles more than 37,000 rotary wing movements carrying around 468,000 passengers annually. Helicopters account for almost half of all aircraft movements at the Airport.
Until March 2005, aircraft were not allowed to take-off or land between 22:30 and 06:00 local time due to noise constraints. The city council overturned this ban, however, despite some Dyce residents' objections, and the airport is now open 24 hours a day.
The airport terminal provides several shopping and eating facilities, a games area, internet access, car hire, bureau de change, taxi ranks and executive lounges.
There is also a Thistle Hotel and Speedbird Inn on the airport site, with a Travelodge and Marriott Hotel between the airport and the Dyce railway station. Hilton recently announced they will open a 175-room "Garden Inn" concept hotel on the Airport site in Autumn 2009.
The airport lies on the main A96 Aberdeen to Inverness road, being only a few kilometers from the city centre itself.
Aberdeen Airport is served by local and express bus services operated by First Aberdeen and Stagecoach Bluebird. Chartered buses can also be booked with local operators.
While the airport is in close proximity to the Dyce railway station, the station is situated on the opposite side of the runways from the terminal. Access to the East Coast line requires a taxi journey.
The East coast line to Inverness is a single stop from the major UK railway station in the city centre, Aberdeen to the south. Aberdeen station is served by First ScotRail, NXEC and CrossCountry.
Aberdeen Airport has now begun work on a £10 million construction project to attract more international routes.
Refurbishment work will see the installation of a segregated walkway for passengers, as well significant enhancements to the international arrivals hall and improvements to jet parking stands.
The first phase of the work will be completed early next year, with all upgrades conforming to UK Border agency requirements.
Phases two and three will then involve additions to the international arrivals hall, centring on improving its passport control and baggage reclaim facilities as well as increasing floor space.
A separate £2 million project to transform the terminal forecourt at Aberdeen Airport got underway last month and is due to be completed this autumn.
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