Record numbers of passengers passed through Scotland's largest two airports last year.

A total of 12.3 million people flew from Edinburgh Airport throughout 2016, a 11% increase on the previous year.

The success was echoed at Glasgow Airport, which also marked month-on-month hikes in passenger numbers and inched towards the ten million mark for the year.

Senior figures at both airports used the annual figures to highlight their support for the Scottish Government's proposed cut to air passenger duty.

They said the reduction would send a clear message that Scotland is "open for business" and ensure airports remain competitive with European rivals.

Edinburgh Airport hailed its statistics as a "tremendous success story for Scotland".

In December alone, 863,147 passengers passed through the airport, with a hike in the number of international travellers compared with last year.

Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said: "We have continued to enhance passenger choice by offering more routes and more destinations- and people have responded by choosing to fly in and out of Edinburgh Airport in greater numbers than ever before.

"To have smashed this record - exceeding last year's growth rate and having helped over 12.3 million passengers through the airport - highlights the draw of Edinburgh as a destination and the growing global appeal that Scotland holds."

He pledged to continue to improve services, attract new routes and invest in the terminal to "enhance the passenger experience".

Glasgow Airport bosses said its figures had help to round off its 50th anniversary year "in style".

A total of 9.4 million passengers travelled through the doors in last year, representing a 7.5% annual increase on 2015.

It attributed the introduction of 25 new routes and services to increases in international and domestic traffic by 9.2% and 5.5% respectively.

The airport also became the first in Scotland to set up a direct service to South Korea.

In December, more than 627,000 people travelled through the airport, an increase of 10.2% on the same period in 2015.

It also had a rise in international traffic, which was up by 16.6% compared with the previous year.

Amanda McMillan, managing director of Glasgow Airport, said: "2016 was an unforgettable year with so many highlights.

"To record our best-ever passenger numbers month after month and to carry 9.4 million passengers was a huge accomplishment and to do it in our golden anniversary was extra special.

"It was also particularly pleasing that we were able to considerably increase our connectivity across Europe and this is set to continue in 2017 with the launch of six new routes to Munich, Bergen, Lisbon, Valencia, Palanga in Lithuania and Zadar in Croatia."