Exploring Shetland: Airport Accessibility And Travel Options

Yes, there is an airport in Shetland. Sumburgh Airport (IATA: LSI, ICAO: EGPB) is the main airport serving Shetland in Scotland. It is located on the southern tip of the mainland, in the parish of Dunrossness, 17 NM (31 km; 20 mi) south of Lerwick. The airport is owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) and served by Loganair.

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Shetland's main airport is Sumburgh Airport

The airport is unusual in that it has a 550 m (1,804 ft) helicopter runway instead of a helipad. Two of the three runways from the former RAF Sumburgh airfield are still in use today, although they have been extended. The longest runway was originally 800 yd (730 m), while the shorter runway was 600 yd (550 m) from shoreline to shoreline. Sumburgh Airport is also used as an operational base by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (His Majesty's Coastguard), Bristow Helicopters, and Babcock Mission Critical Services Offshore (SAR and crew change operations).

There have been several notable incidents at Sumburgh Airport over the years. On 29 March 1981, a Potez 840 F-BMCY operated by Club Aéronautique de Paris made a wheels-up landing, resulting in minimal damage. On 6 November 1986, a British International Helicopters Chinook crashed 2.5 mi (4.0 km) east of the airport, killing 45 people. More recently, on 15 December 2014, a Loganair flight from Aberdeen to Shetland was struck by lightning during its landing attempt, causing the aircraft to go into a steep dive before the pilots recovered and diverted to Aberdeen.

Sumburgh Airport is well-connected to the surrounding area, with regular bus services to and from Lerwick, 25 miles (40 km) away by road. Bus service 6, operated by J&DS Halcrow of Cunningsburgh, provides a daily link between the airport and the town, with evening services run by Yell-based operator R. Robertson & Son.

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Sumburgh Airport is owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited

Yes, there is an airport in Shetland. Sumburgh Airport (IATA: LSI, ICAO: EGPB) is the main airport serving the Shetland Islands in Scotland. It is located on the southern tip of the mainland, in the parish of Dunrossness, 17 NM (31 km; 20 mi) south of Lerwick.

The airport has a rich history, with its origins as a former RAF airfield during World War II. Two of the original three runways are still in use today, with extensions made over the years. The airport is also unusual in that it has a 550-metre helicopter runway instead of the typical helipad. The western end of runway 09/27 crosses the A970 road, with access controlled by a level crossing that closes whenever aircraft take off or land.

Sumburgh Airport is served by Loganair, which operates flights to and from various destinations, including Aberdeen. The airport has played a significant role in aviation history, as evidenced by several notable incidents, including a lightning strike on a Loganair flight in 2014 and a helicopter crash in 1986.

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The airport is 31km south of Lerwick

Yes, there is an airport in Shetland. Sumburgh Airport (IATA: LSI, ICAO: EGPB) is the main airport serving Shetland in Scotland. It is located on the southern tip of the Shetland mainland, in the parish of Dunrossness, 17 NM (31 km; 20 mi) south of Lerwick. The airport is owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) and served by Loganair.

Sumburgh Airport is unusual in that it has a 550 m (1,804 ft) helicopter runway instead of the usual helipad. The airport is also used as an operational base by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (His Majesty's Coastguard), Bristow Helicopters, and Babcock Mission Critical Services Offshore (SAR and crew change operations).

The airport is 31 km south of Lerwick, which is the capital and largest settlement of the Shetland Islands. Lerwick is located on the east coast of Shetland, and its name is derived from the Old Norse words 'Leirvik', meaning 'clay bay'. The town has a population of around 7,500 people and is a key transport hub for the islands, with ferry and air links to the Scottish mainland and other Shetland islands.

Sumburgh Airport is a significant gateway to Lerwick and the rest of the Shetland Islands. It offers regular flights to and from the Scottish mainland, providing essential transport connections for residents, businesses, and tourists. The airport's location, 31 km south of Lerwick, ensures relatively easy access to and from the capital.

The distance between the airport and Lerwick also facilitates a range of transport options for travellers. There are taxi and bus services connecting the airport and Lerwick, with journey times depending on traffic and road conditions. Additionally, car rental services are available at the airport, offering travellers the convenience of self-drive options for their journey to Lerwick or other destinations in Shetland.

The airport has a history of accidents

Yes, there is an airport in Shetland. The main airport serving Shetland in Scotland is Sumburgh Airport (IATA: LSI, ICAO: EGPB). The airport is located on the southern tip of the Shetland mainland, in the parish of Dunrossness, 17 NM (31 km; 20 mi) south of Lerwick. The airport is owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), a public corporation wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers.

Sumburgh Airport was formerly an RAF airfield with three runways, two of which are still in use by the airport today. The airport has been the site of several aviation accidents over the years. One of the earliest recorded accidents occurred on 29 March 1981 when a Potez 840 F-BMCY operated by Club Aéronautique de Paris made a wheels-up landing. While damage to the aircraft was minimal, it was still parked on a stand for several months before being abandoned in a quiet corner of the airfield. The aircraft's engines and other useful parts were salvaged, and the remaining airframe was eventually moved to a private garden in North Roe, in the north of Shetland.

On 31 July 1979, Dan-Air Flight 0034, a charter flight from Sumburgh Airport to Aberdeen Airport carrying 44 passengers and two pilots, resulted in a fatal crash. The aircraft, a Hawker Siddeley HS 748 series 1 turboprop, failed to take off and crashed about 50 m (160 ft) offshore. The accident resulted in the deaths of 15 passengers and both pilots, with 30 survivors. An investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) attributed the cause of the accident to the locked condition of the aircraft's elevators, which prevented the aircraft from rotating into a flying attitude.

Another notable accident occurred on 6 November 1986, when a British International Helicopters Chinook crashed 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of Sumburgh Airport. This accident had a high fatality rate, with only two survivors and 45 fatalities. More recently, on 15 December 2014, a Loganair flight from Aberdeen to Shetland was struck by lightning during its attempt to land at Sumburgh Airport. The aircraft went into a steep dive, but the pilots were able to regain control and divert the flight back to Aberdeen.

Shetland can be reached by flight from the UK mainland or Norway

Yes, there is an airport in Shetland. The main airport serving the Shetland Islands in Scotland is Sumburgh Airport (IATA: LSI, ICAO: EGPB). It is located on the southern tip of the Shetland mainland, in the parish of Dunrossness, 31km (20 mi) south of Lerwick. The airport is owned and operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL), a public corporation wholly owned by the Scottish Ministers. HIAL also operates 10 other airports in Scotland, including in Inverness, Dundee, and Wick John O'Groats.

Sumburgh Airport is served by Loganair, which operates flights to and from the UK mainland and Norway. It is also used by Bristow Helicopters and Babcock Mission Critical Services Offshore for SAR and crew change operations. The airport has two runways, with the longest originally measuring 730m, and a separate 550m helicopter runway.

In addition to Sumburgh Airport, Shetland is also served by Tingwall Airport, which provides inter-island air services to the outer isles of Shetland, including Fair Isle and Foula. These services are operated by Airtask Group Limited.

So, to answer your question, yes, Shetland can be reached by flight from the UK mainland or Norway, with connections to the outer isles also available.

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