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PASSENGER numbers would more than double with flights bound for North America and the Middle East taking off from Aberdeen airport under a 25-year blueprint launched yesterday.
Plans for a 300m runway extension have been lodged to open the city to destinations such as Prague, Berlin and Rome.
This year, Aberdeen City Council agreed to relax the airport's operating hours and, in the past 18 months, 16 new routes have been launched – making it Scotland's fastest-growing airport.
Andy Flower, managing director, said: "For an airport with aspirations to become a major gateway for Scotland, the lack of flexibility around our operating hours was a major stumbling block.
"Aberdeen City Council's decision to lift the restrictions has been a huge benefit to our airlines and, more importantly, to our passengers. A number of airlines have now expressed an interest in operating, or expanding, from Aberdeen as a result of that decision.
"However, in our discussions with existing, and potential, airlines, it has become obvious that the length of the runway remains a barrier to further growth. If we are serious about attracting new international airlines, and we are, it is vital that we address this issue."
Passenger numbers have increased by 25% over the past decade from 2.24 million in 1995 to 2.6 million last year. The masterplan forecasts that the airport could handle as many as 5.3 million by 2030. The number of people directly employed at the site is forecast to increase to about 4000 by 2030.
Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "This announcement can only be described as environmental madness. Talk of doubling capacity at airports like Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh is premature and will seriously undermine action to tackle global warming."
Projected passenger figures
PASSENGER numbers would more than double with flights bound for North America and the Middle East taking off from Aberdeen airport under a 25-year blueprint launched yesterday.
Plans for a 300m runway extension have been lodged to open the city to destinations such as Prague, Berlin and Rome.
This year, Aberdeen City Council agreed to relax the airport's operating hours and, in the past 18 months, 16 new routes have been launched – making it Scotland's fastest-growing airport.
Andy Flower, managing director, said: "For an airport with aspirations to become a major gateway for Scotland, the lack of flexibility around our operating hours was a major stumbling block.
"Aberdeen City Council's decision to lift the restrictions has been a huge benefit to our airlines and, more importantly, to our passengers. A number of airlines have now expressed an interest in operating, or expanding, from Aberdeen as a result of that decision.
"However, in our discussions with existing, and potential, airlines, it has become obvious that the length of the runway remains a barrier to further growth. If we are serious about attracting new international airlines, and we are, it is vital that we address this issue."
Passenger numbers have increased by 25% over the past decade from 2.24 million in 1995 to 2.6 million last year. The masterplan forecasts that the airport could handle as many as 5.3 million by 2030. The number of people directly employed at the site is forecast to increase to about 4000 by 2030.
Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "This announcement can only be described as environmental madness. Talk of doubling capacity at airports like Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh is premature and will seriously undermine action to tackle global warming."
Projected passenger figures
PASSENGER numbers would more than double with flights bound for North America and the Middle East taking off from Aberdeen airport under a 25-year blueprint launched yesterday.
Plans for a 300m runway extension have been lodged to open the city to destinations such as Prague, Berlin and Rome.
This year, Aberdeen City Council agreed to relax the airport's operating hours and, in the past 18 months, 16 new routes have been launched – making it Scotland's fastest-growing airport.
Andy Flower, managing director, said: "For an airport with aspirations to become a major gateway for Scotland, the lack of flexibility around our operating hours was a major stumbling block.
"Aberdeen City Council's decision to lift the restrictions has been a huge benefit to our airlines and, more importantly, to our passengers. A number of airlines have now expressed an interest in operating, or expanding, from Aberdeen as a result of that decision.
"However, in our discussions with existing, and potential, airlines, it has become obvious that the length of the runway remains a barrier to further growth. If we are serious about attracting new international airlines, and we are, it is vital that we address this issue."
Passenger numbers have increased by 25% over the past decade from 2.24 million in 1995 to 2.6 million last year. The masterplan forecasts that the airport could handle as many as 5.3 million by 2030. The number of people directly employed at the site is forecast to increase to about 4000 by 2030.
Duncan McLaren, chief executive of Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: "This announcement can only be described as environmental madness. Talk of doubling capacity at airports like Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh is premature and will seriously undermine action to tackle global warming."
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