Aberdeen International Airport bosses yesterday dropped plans to keep the main bar open for 22 hours a day.
The turnaround came after an application was tabled with the city’s licensing board to change the opening hours to 3am to 1am, Monday to Sunday.
At present, the Granite City Bar, situated next to the baggage claim area, serves drink from 6am to 2am, Monday to Saturday, and from 11am to 2am on Sundays.
Police Scotland lodged a letter of objection to the proposed change and Dyce community council was also against it.
In a letter to the board, Chief Inspector Murray Main, on behalf of the chief constable, pointed out that the current 20 hours of opening was an exception to the normal 14 hours deemed reasonable by the Scottish Government.
The board’s policy states that casinos also have an exemption.
Chief Inspector Main added: “The chief constable recognises that licensed premises within Aberdeen International Airport may be viewed differently to premises elsewhere in the city. However, the board are asked to carefully consider whether or not the exception within its policy was ever intended to allow a premises at the airport to open for 22 continuous hours in a 24-hour period.”
However, at yesterday’s meeting, the board was told the airport would withdraw the original request and instead aim for a 5am to 1am amendment.
Board convener Marie Boulton said both the police and community council objections would be withdrawn.
She said both Glasgow and Edinburgh airports had 3am opening, but that was not considered to be required in Aberdeen.
Mrs Boulton said: “They recognised that it was an unacceptable proposal and reviewed it.
“Both the police and community council were happy with that in the end.”
Mrs Boulton said any potential problems from allowing people to drink for extended periods were for the airport to deal with.
She said: “The airport staff will have jurisdiction in terms of whether people get on or off aircraft. They should not be providing alcohol to people if they have got to the point of intoxication.”
An Aberdeen International Airport spokeswoman said she understood the intention had been to bring the Granite City Bar into line with the hours of the bar in the departure area.