PASSENGER numbers at Scotland's smallest airports have reached an all-time high of nearly 1.4 million.

Regional airport operator HIAL said traffic at its 11 bases, which include Dundee and Inverness airports, grew by 5.4 per cent in 2013/14 to a record 1,367,342 passengers.

Sumburgh Airport, which is currently undergoing a £2 million upgrade, was the fastest growing airport in the group, with passenger numbers up by 32.2 per cent year-on-year.

However, Inglis Lyon, Managing Director of HIAL, said the group had also faced challenges.

He said: "Some of our airline partners sought to rationalise their business in the face of rising costs, the future of access to the south east remained up in the air, and the impact of Air Passenger Duty continued to be felt across the industry."