Highland councillors yesterday welcomed the decision to back plans for a third runway at Heathrow Airport.
Council leader Margaret Davidson said the expansion of Heathrow was the best opportunity to improve connectivity between Inverness, London and the wider world.
She said: “Both the Scottish and UK Governments are committed to working with us to secure additional flights from the Highland capital to Heathrow as part of the City Region Deal and this decision provides the opportunity to deliver on these commitments.”
Regional transport body Hitrans also welcomed the decision, but warned the extra capacity was still some years away.
Hitrans chairman, councillor Allan Henderson said: “Extra slots to Heathrow would help tourism and wider business in the Highlands flourish but we must continue to push for more services in the meantime.
“The economic benefit to the Highlands and islands of the re-established daily link to Heathrow is already evident, but this decision to increase the capacity of the airport must bring with it the ability for people to make daily return trips in either direction and also make better connections to and from international markets.”
