FBOs at Kirkwall EGPA KOI

Airport security

Kirkwall and the wider Orkney region present a low street crime environment, with local crime levels characterised by official sources as among the lowest in Scotland. Civil unrest is not a documented concern in the area.

However, the United Kingdom national terrorism threat level is rated SEVERE by JTAC, meaning an attack is considered highly likely, and this designation applies nationwide including Orkney; the U.S. Department of State has correspondingly issued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory for the United Kingdom on the basis of terrorism.

Kirkwall Airport is a small regional commercial aerodrome operated by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited, serving scheduled inter-island and mainland Scottish routes.

Security provisions meet UK regulatory requirements appropriate for an aerodrome of this size and type, encompassing a security cordon, passenger screening, and body scanning prior to entry to the departure lounge.

Aircraft operators bear responsibility for the security of their aircraft when parked on the apron, including searches prior to departure, in accordance with published aeronautical information.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

• Hours: By arrangement with aerodrome operator
• customs available on request — confirm in advance
• OOH international customs not available Airport of entry on request only
• CIQ overtime possible but must be pre-arranged
• predominantly domestic traffic — most movements do not require customs clearance
• confirm requirements via HIAL operations prior to departure

Ground corridor

Orkney and the Kirkwall area present a very low ground transport threat environment — the dominant risk category is routine traffic safety on single-carriageway rural roads rather than crime or civil unrest, and the islands are assessed among the safest destinations in the United Kingdom.

No high-risk corridors exist near the airport; the A960 connects the terminal directly to Kirkwall town centre approximately 5 km to the northwest, and this route is the standard travel corridor.

Licensed pre-arranged vehicles and metered local transport are both generally reliable and adequate for operational use; HIAL's own guidance recommends pre-booking transport prior to arrival given the limited availability of vehicles on-island, particularly outside peak hours.

No movement restrictions, embargo conditions, or conflict-related travel prohibitions apply to Orkney or the United Kingdom.

City threat summary

Kirkwall and the wider Orkney region present a low street crime environment, with local crime levels characterised by official sources as among the lowest in Scotland. Civil unrest is not a documented concern in the area.

However, the United Kingdom national terrorism threat level is rated SEVERE by JTAC, meaning an attack is considered highly likely, and this designation applies nationwide including Orkney; the U.S. Department of State has correspondingly issued a Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory for the United Kingdom on the basis of terrorism.

Country overview

The United Kingdom operates under a SEVERE national terrorism threat level as assessed by MI5 and the Joint Terrorism Analysis Centre, meaning a terrorist attack is considered highly likely.

The political environment is marked by significant fragmentation, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer's Labour government recording historically low approval ratings and substantial losses at the May 2026 local elections.

The broader security and economic picture has worsened in 2026, with stagflation conditions, rising energy costs, and an elevated threat landscape driven by both extreme right-wing and Islamist terrorism.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Aberdeen EGPD HIGH
• Birmingham EGBB HIGH
• Bristol EGGD HIGH
• Cambridge EGSC HIGH
• Castle Donington EGNX HIGH
• Crawley EGKK HIGH
• Edinburgh EGPH HIGH
• Farnborough EGLF HIGH
• Glasgow EGPF HIGH
• Inverness EGPE HIGH