PASSENGERS are being advised to arrive between 15 to 20 minutes early for for flights from Highlands and Islands airports as industrial action involving security staff begins.

The 48 hour strike over pay, holidays and sick pay, will affect Dundee and Inverness and other regional airports such as Barra, Benbecula, Islay, Kirkwall and Campbeltown.

Highlands and Islands Airports (HIAL) said they would operate their usual opening times, and all scheduled services will operate other than the Dundee-Stansted services, which should be rebooked for departures after Thursday morning.

Scheduled passengers intending to fly are advised to arrive 15-20 minutes earlier for their flight and limit the amount of hand or check-in luggage they take to the airport.

The airport group said it would help if passengers could limit the amount of liquids they check in to help speed up the security process.

They should also confirm the status of their flight with their airline before setting out.k.

HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said "Whilst we are disappointed that the industrial action is taking place, we have been working hard to develop contingencies to enable the airports to remain open and minimise the amount of disruption for our passengers."