BA to return to Inverness

British Airways is to boost services to Scotland with the relaunch of daily flights from Heathrow to Inverness next year.

BA axed its service to Inverness, the gateway to the Highlands and Islands, in 1997. The Heathrow link was reinstated in 2004 by BMI, but the airline dropped the route four years later, blaming rising costs at Heathrow.

The new year-round service will start on May 3 connecting Inverness directly with Heathrow’s T5 and British Airways’ global network, serving more than 130 destinations around the world.

Operating an Airbus A319, with up to 143 seats, BA said the flight will also help encourage tourists from around the world to visit the Highlands and Islands.

BA head of UK customer service and operations Denize Mcgregor said: "We are very pleased to be starting our new service to Inverness. As the capital of the Highlands, Inverness has a strong and diverse economy and has developed into a major centre for life sciences, commercialisation and research.

"British Airways’ daily flights will benefit the Inverness economy by linking the business community of the city and its environs with our global network of more than 130 destinations, and help boost the area’s vital in-bound tourism sector by bringing even more visitors to this beautiful and historic city, with its unique environment, scenery and culture."

Inglis Lyon, managing director of Inverness Airport operator, HIAL, said:  "Through our efforts, and with the support of our partners, Inverness Airport has done what few other regional airports have achieved in recent years, attracting one of the world’s leading airlines and securing access to the UK’s hub airport at the same time.

"No other UK airport offers more worldwide connections than Heathrow, and no other UK airline offers more international destinations than British Airways. The potential benefits for business and inbound tourism are enormous."

Local business has also backed the resumption of services between London and Inverness, welcoming the interest and much-needed investment it could bring to companies and people who live and work in the region.

David McMillan, LifeScan Scotland’s managing director, said: "This is fantastic news for the region, allowing small, medium and large businesses across the Highlands a direct link with Heathrow and beyond. Having this Inverness to Heathrow route is an important boost for connectivity.

"Specifically for LifeScan Scotland this offers our employees significant flexibility in their travel plans. Reviewing 2015, over 1,200 flights were taken by LifeScan Scotland employees travelling through London airports."

Alex Paterson, Highlands and Islands Enterprise chief executive, said: "This is excellent news, which will open up new economic opportunities for the region. We are sure it will be of great interest to existing businesses and potential inward investors, and look forward to welcoming British Airways back to Inverness in 2016."

Derek Mackay, Scottish Minister for Transport and the Islands, said: "This is fantastic news for the Highlands, offering a new direct link with London and opening up a wide range of onward connections from Heathrow.

"This is particularly important for Scottish businesses looking for improved access to global markets. It’s also a major boost for local tourism, making it even easier for visitors to get a taste of the fantastic experiences on offer in the Highlands."