Highland businesses are set to enjoy better links to the UK’s main financial and commercial centres over the coming weeks following a boost in capacity from Inverness.
As well as announcing new flights to London City and Dublin, due to begin in October, flybe will increase frequency to the UK’s second city.
From today (14 July) until September 5, flybe will operate a new early morning flight from Inverness to Birmingham, departing Inverness at 6.20am arriving into Birmingham at 7.50am.
The new service will allow business travellers to travel to the Midlands and back again in the course of a working day, ensuring that Highland firms are better connected with businesses across the region.
Business links between Inverness and Manchester are also set for a boost from October 27, when flybe will launch a third daily service from the Highlands.
Birmingham has a strong manufacturing, engineering, medical and insurance sector, while Manchester is a major centre for banking and financial services, biotechnology, electronics, software development, media and creative industries.
Both airports also offer a comprehensive network of long haul destinations across the US, Canada, the Gulf and Far East, allowing Highlands businesses to connect with key markets including New York, Chicago, Toronto, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Qatar, Istanbul, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Earlier this year, easyJet also introduced a new business friendly schedule between Inverness and London Gatwick, with a new 6.40am departure from Inverness, arriving into Gatwick at 8.15am.
A new double daily service to London City Airport, in the heart of London’s financial district, will also enable Highland business travellers to reach London early in the morning.
Inverness Airport general manager Graeme Bell said: “Both flybe and easyJet have worked hard to improve business connections from the Highlands. With new business friendly services to Birmingham and London Gatwick, increased frequency to Manchester, and the launch of new services to London City, the gateway to one of the world’s top financial centres, business links from the Highlands are on the increase. Fast, efficient links are a necessity for business and save local firms time and money. We are confident that there will be strong support from the Highland business community for these new services.”