Scotland’s Far North Aviation has recorded a 25 per cent increase in traffic levels in the first three months of this year, as compared with the same period last year.

Said Andrew Bruce: “In view of the atrocities of September 11, it is remarkable that business aviation traffic – including ferry flights of all sizes of aircraft – did not decrease from that of the same quarter in the previous year.

“That said, one must remember that as far as security and the risk of terrorist activity goes, the business jet world and smaller craft are comparatively low risk and this I think could account for the increase.”

Bruce says that a whole host of nationalities are now using Wick as a first and last stop when crossing the Atlantic. He said: “It has really become an international meeting venue for discerning ferry pilots and business jet commuters around the world. This is due to the much lower traffic volumes in the far north of Scotland meaning quicker turn round times as the word delay at Wick is unheard of.”

Bruce says one of the main advantages of visiting Far North Aviation at Wick is that the company does not charge anything for handling ferry flights, regardless of size. He said: “This is very popular among customers who are constantly complain about escalating ‘mandatory’ handling fees throughout the world.”