The operator of the north’s airports is to unveil multimillion-pound plans to build a new terminal at Sumburgh Airport in Shetland.
Passenger numbers at Hial’s regional airports last month were up nearly 6% on the previous year, new figures show.
The operator handled 92,607 passengers in February – an increase of more than 5,100 (5.9%) compared to the same month last year.
Bosses attributed the rise to an increased demand for business and tourism flights.
A breakdown of the figures show there was “particularly strong growth” at Sumburgh.
Hial managing director Inglis Lyon said: “The unprecedented growth at Sumburgh is fantastic news for the local economy and underlines the important role the airport plays as a major energy hub for Scotland.
“Continued growth in the energy sector and in scheduled services means we need to invest for the future to accommodate the forecast growth in demand. In the coming weeks, we will be announcing plans for a major redevelopment of Sumburgh to enable future growth.”
Some 22,768 people passed through its doors last month, up more than 30% on the previous year, as a consequence of increased demand from the energy sector and a rise in passengers flying between Shetland and Aberdeen.
At Inverness, passenger numbers grew by 3.7% to 39,296 as a result of growth on the Amsterdam, Belfast, Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester routes, Hial said.
Kirkwall, Stornoway, Islay and Campbeltown airports also reported growth in passenger numbers over the year.
But numbers fell at Barra, Benbecula and Tiree. Wick saw a decline in passenger numbers of more than 33% since February 2013, and Dundee witnessed a drop of almost 25%.
At Dundee, however, a new twice-daily Loganair service to London Stansted is due to begin later this month, officials said.
Mr Lyon added: “We are confident we can attract more energy-related business to our airports, particularly Wick, John O’Groats and Sumburgh.
“The recent agreement between BP and Eastern to operate energy-related flights between Aberdeen and Sumburgh is a sign of the potential for growth.”