AIRPORT/ACCESS TO THE AIRPORT

 Aberdeen Airport is a growing airport of vital importance to the north east economy, with a growing list of destinations served by the airport, some of which have been assisted by the Scottish Executive's Route Development Fund.

Nestrans is continuing to work through the Airport Business Development Forum to support the role of the airport in the region, particularly to realise the opportunities presented by the removal of opening hour restrictions to expand passenger and freight operations through the airport.

The airport and the Dyce area generate business and jobs, but also traffic. Nestrans has worked with BAA Aberdeen to improve surface access to the airport, particularly by public transport.  An operational review was funded by both parties in 2009 and following on from this an upgrade to the traffic control system, a revised lane configuration on the approach to the A96 roundabout from Dyce Drive and the opening of a bus/taxi lane on Argyll Road have been implemented. 

Nestrans and BAA have also supported the service 80 Airlink shuttle bus that was launched in December 2008 to tie in with the ScotRail train service and connect Dyce Railway Station with Aberdeen Airport, the Heliport and Kirkhill Industrial Estate.  BAA also opened a new multi-storey car park with 500 short stay spaces and launched new dedicated cycle/motorcycle storage facilities with getabout during bike week in 2010. 

A £10 million 124m extension to the north of Aberdeen Airport's main runway was given the green light in November, with work due to start in March 2011 and expected to be complete by autumn 2011.