Kirkwall Airport

Kirkwall Airport (IATA: KOI, ICAO: EGPA) is the main airport serving Orkney in Scotland. It is located 2.5 NM (4.6 km; 2.9 mi) southeast of Kirkwall[1] and is owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited. The airport is used by Loganair.

Kirkwall Airport

Port-adhair Bhaile na h-Eaglais
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorHighlands and Islands Airports Limited
ServesMainland, Orkney
LocationKirkwall
Hub forLoganair
Elevation AMSL58 ft / 18 m
Coordinates58°57′29″N 002°54′02″W
WebsiteKirkwall Airport
Map
EGPA
Location in Orkney
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
09/27 1,428 4,685 Grooved asphalt
14/32 680 2,231 Asphalt
Statistics (2021)
Passengers85,665
Passenger change 2020-21 35.7%
Aircraft movements11,114
Movements change 2020-21 17.0%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

History

The airport was built and commissioned in 1940 as RAF Grimsetter for the defence of the Scapa Flow naval base. In 1943 the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm took over, as RNAS Kirkwall then HMS Robin. Control passed in 1948 to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and in 1986 to Highlands and Islands Airports.[3]

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

Airlines and destinations

Passenger
AirlinesDestinations
Loganair Aberdeen, Eday, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, Sumburgh, Westray

Cargo
AirlinesDestinations
Royal Mail Aberdeen, Sumburgh, Inverness

Statistics and traffic

Annual traffic statistics
Annual passenger traffic at KOI airport. See source Wikidata query.
Traffic statistics at Kirkwall[9]
Year Passengers handled Aircraft movements
No.% changeNo.% change
2015 160,234 10,701
2016 163,029 1.7% 11,045 3.2%
2017 177,248 9% 14,754 8.7%
2018 181,562 2.4% 14,771 0.1%
2019 171,603 5.9% 14,247 3.5%
2020 63,113 63.2% 9,498 33.3%
2021 85,665 35.7% 11,114 17.0%

Busiest routes
Busiest routes to and from Kirkwall (2020)[10]
Rank Airport Passengers handled Change
2019–2020
1 Aberdeen 21,806 55.9%
2 Edinburgh 13,436 72.2%
3 Glasgow 5,734 71.6%
4 Sumburgh 5,650 40.1%
5 Inverness 4,466 78.4%
6 North Ronaldsay 3,204 43.4%
7 Papa Westray 2,670 44.8%
8 Westray 1,999 42.5%
9 Stronsay 1,957 41.6%
10 Sanday 1,834 38%
11 Eday 357 31.9%

Green energy

Hydrogen production by electrolysis of water was well under way in late 2020 in Orkney, where clean energy sources (wind, waves, tides) were generating excess electricity that could be used to produce hydrogen gas (H2).[11] A plan was under way at Kirkwall Airport to add a hydrogen combustion engine system to the heating system in order to reduce the significant emissions that were created with older technology that heated buildings and water. This was part of the plan formulated by the Scottish government for the Highlands and Islands "to become the world’s first net zero aviation region by 2040".[12]

Accidents and incidents
  • 25 October 1979 - A Vickers Viscount G-BFYZ of Alidair was damaged beyond economic repair when the aircraft departed the runway after #4 propeller struck the runway. The nosewheel collapsed when the aircraft reached an intersecting runway.[13]

References

Citations
  1. Kirkwall - EGPA
  2. "UK airport data". UK Civil Aviation Authority. 23 April 2022. Retrieved 17 March 2017.
  3. "Kirkwall Airport: About Us". Highlands and Islands Airports. Retrieved 4 January 2015.
  4. Sturtivant & Ballance 1994, p. 365.
  5. Jefford 1988, p. 58.
  6. Jefford 1988, p. 59.
  7. Jefford 1988, p. 75.
  8. "Grimsetter (Kirkwall)". Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  9. "Airport data 2020 | UK Civil Aviation Authority". www.caa.co.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  10. "Airport data 2020 01 | UK Civil Aviation Authority". www.caa.co.uk. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  11. "How hydrogen is transforming these tiny Scottish islands". BBC News. 27 March 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  12. "Green hydrogen set to decarbonise airport". Hydrogen East. 20 December 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  13. "Accident description". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 8 October 2009.

Bibliography
  • Jefford, C.G. (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
  • Sturtivant, R; Ballance, T (1994). The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-223-8.


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