Islay Airport

Islay Airport, located in the island of Islay in the Inner Hebrides, off the West Coast of Scotland is a small rural airport owned and maintained by Highlands and Islands Airports. Its IATA Airport Code is ILY.

History

The first airports appeared in Islay in the 1930s. However these were just grass stripped airports. In 1940, during World War II, the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill ordered military airports to be constructed in the Western Islands of Scotland, both to defend against a German assault on the Scottish mainland, and also the provide reconnaissance planes a base to fly missions over the Atlantic Ocean. The present Islay airport was constructed in 1940, and received a concrete runway in 1942. During World War II, over 1,500 Royal Air Force personnel were stationed at Islay Airport.

Present Day

Today the airport is used for scheduled services to the Scottish mainland, and for air ambulances. Loganair fly a service from Glasgow International Airport, twice daily on weekdays, and once daily on Saturdays.

Prince of Wales

On June 29, 1994, HRH Prince Charles, Prince of Wales made headlines when he crash landed one of the Queen's Flight jets on the runway of the airport. No one was injured, however the plane was badly damaged.