Inverness is one HIAL's 10 airports it runs

The Inverness Airport Outline Master Plan sets out how it will need to change to meet the demands of the next 25 years.

It predicts 1.2 million passengers using the airport each year by 2010, 1.6m by 2020 and 1.8m by 2030.

However, the Scottish Greens said the expansion of airports was "not sustainable or sensible".

The plan has been developed over the past two years by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL).

HIAL forecasts expansion to the terminal building, more aircraft parking stands, improvements to taxi ways and main runway and extra short and long-stay car parking to cope with greater passenger numbers.

The document has now gone out for public consultation.

Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL, said this marked an "exciting new phase" in the airport's history.

Climate change

He said: "In it we set out a blueprint for the future of the largest airport in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland which is a major catalyst for economic and social development."

Eleanor Scott, Green Highlands and Islands MSP, said airport expansion flew in the face of efforts to tackle climate change.

She said: "The ongoing expansion of airports and the aviation industry cannot go on, it simply is not sustainable or sensible.