THE world's only beach airport has never lost an item of baggage through human error in 78 years.

But now a bigger problem has emerged at Barra's landing strip after 120mph winds destroyed baggage reclaim, which could be mistaken for a bus shelter or an outdoor smoking area.

The airport has never had to build a runway, with planes landing on its An Traigh Mhor beach since 1936.

The facility has room for about half a dozen cases on its short conveyer belt and the firefighting team double as handlers, passing the cases through an open window on one side of the shelter.

It worked well until June when a gust of wind literally blew the hall apart and spread the wreckage across the beach.

The airport spent £2,500 on a replacement hall only to have the roof ripped off shortly afterwards by the winds.

Manager Michael Galbraith said: "Thankfully when the old structure blew away it didn't hit any cars in the car park.

"It blew off down the beach and we had to go and collect the pieces."

While they waited for a replacement, passengers' bags were simply placed on the ground near to the terminal.

A smart new baggage reclaim was installed later in the summer.

Mr Galbraith said: "Shortly after the roof of that blew off too, over on to the other side of the road. I got in touch with the manufacturers to ask about warranty.

"But they said due to the conditions in this area the warranty didn't apply.

"We could have had a ­replacement roof sent over but it was just easier to patch it back up ourselves."

Mr Galbraith admitted: "There has since been some shaking but so far, touch wood, it's all held together."

Passengers pay around £80 for a single between Glasgow and Barra, flying aboard Twin Otter aircraft which seat up to 18.

Other airport facilities include a pay phone and cafe.

During good weather, there is one daily flight from Glasgow, apart from Sunday for reasons of religious observance.

Barra Airport is the only airport in the world to have scheduled flights landing on a beach, tide allowing.

In 2011 it won the World's Most Stunning Airport Approach title, beating off competitors from Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles.

Mr Galbraith said: "Apart from the Twin Otters landing, the baggage reclaim is the next most photographed thing when people land.

"It's definitely different to what people are used to but that is what people love about it."

The beach runway has been used for flights since 1936.