Plans for direct flight from Inverness to France revealed

By Chris Cromar

November 22 2022, 4:01 pm

Inverness Airport is Scotland's fourth busiest airport. Image: Sandy McCook / DC Thomson.

A businessman from France has announced plans for a new airline to operate a regular service between Inverness and Brittany.

If the plans come to fruition, the Highland capital would be connected by a three times a week service to Lorient South Brittany Airport, which is located three miles from Lorient in the north-west of France.

The new airline, Lorizon Aircraft was founded in July by Maxime Ray and has already acquired two 37-seat Embraer ERJ 135s, with one arriving last week after flying with Loganair.

Already a non-commercial flight from Lorient to Inverness

It will have a focus on corporate flights to attract business travellers, with it being reported that the remaining seats will be sold to non-business travellers “for attractive prices”.

At the moment, there is only one commercial flight from Lorient South Brittany Airport, an APG Airlines service to Toulouse-Blagnac in the south of France, although, there was previously a seasonal one to Southampton.

KLM provides Inverness a connection to Amsterdam. Image: Sandy McCook / DC Thomson.

As well as this, there is a non-commercial flight that is operated by Air ITM from the airport to Inverness for sailors from French fresh fishing vessel, Scapeche.

‘A competitive price to discover the Highlands, at the foot of Loch Ness’

Speaking to Brittany newspaper Le Telegramme, Mr Ray said: “These are private flights with a certain number of seats which will be marketed over the counter, by the airport, at a competitive price to discover the Highlands, at the foot of Loch Ness.”

If the plans become a reality, the route will be Inverness Airport‘s third international destination, with a KLM route to Amsterdam and a seasonal TUI Airways flight to Palma de Mallorca already on schedule.

A Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (Hial) spokesman said: “We are aware of the plans by Lorizon Aircraft to establish regular flights between Lorient South Brittany Airport and Inverness, but at this stage there have been no discussions with the company on the proposals.

“The team at Inverness would be delighted to discuss requirements with Lorizon Aircraft should they wish to progress their plans.”