Highland Airways today (Wednesday 24 September) announced new
weekday services linking Glasgow, Inverness and the Western Isles.
The airline will operate early morning and evening flights
between Glasgow and Inverness and morning and evening flights between Glasgow
and Benbecula with 18-seat Jetstream 31 aircraft from the beginning of
November.
The pressurised turbo-prop regional aircraft will enhance air
links between Inverness, Glasgow and the Outer Hebrides. The new services will
in effect replace the Glasgow-Inverness early morning and evening links
currently offered by Loganair that are being withdrawn at the end of
October.
An early 0700 start from Inverness will allow passengers to
arrive in Glasgow at 0745 ready for a day’s work, or in time to catch the range
of onward flights to the rest of the UK and Europe from Glasgow. The late return
in the evening helps complete a useful itinerary option for the range of
business and leisure travellers trying to make it back to Inverness in one
day.
Highland Airways’ commercial director Basil O’Fee said:
"Inverness City will be relieved by this news which in effect will retain its
early morning link to Glasgow and its onward destinations, and the late evening
return permitting travellers to complete their day’s work, and still get back to
the Highland capital. The recent announcement of the withdrawal of a comparable
service by Loganair was met with dismay by the many travellers who use the
route, and by business interests keen to retain the maximum number of travel
options for commerce. Indeed it was this recent retraction that prompted
Highland Airways’ announcement today.
"Our 18-seat Jetstream aircraft are well-suited to the
anticipated usage between Inverness and Glasgow at these times. We are confident
that this important service will continue to be viable with such a well-matched
aircraft. Glasgow also continues to play a useful interlining role for Highland
travellers."
Highland Airways also announced a twice-daily link between
Glasgow and Benbecula to commence at the beginning of November.
Mr O’Fee said: "It will now be possible, for the first time, to
accomplish business and still return home, in the evening of the same day, from
either destination. The schedule also links in well with Highland Airways’
further links between Stornoway and Benbecula. The Jetstream will arrive in the
Uists just after 0900 and be back in Glasgow by 1020. The evening rotation
involves a 1600 depart from Glasgow and with an arrival in Benbecula just before
1700. Passengers leaving the islands can catch the 1715 flight from Benbecula to
Glasgow.
"The Uists have desired a more regular and convenient air link
with Glasgow for a long time. Our new timetable will offer travellers a range of
travel options that will increase connectivity for the Outer Hebrides with the
Scottish mainland. With this new initiative we now are offering links between
the Western Isles and both Glasgow and Inverness. Indeed Benbecula will become
something of a mini-hub for ourselves with northbound and southbound timetables
interacting well with each other.
"Highland Airways will continue to seek ways that we can offer
services that help improve the linkages of the total air network within
Scotland. It is now well appreciated that a sturdy air network underpins so much
of the economic and social fabric of a region. We see ourselves as partners in a
concerted effort, by many interested partners, to improve the Highlands and
Islands’ ability to link effectively with itself and the rest of the world. Our
air network now incorporates a timetable serving Inverness, Glasgow, Benbecula,
Stornoway and Sumburgh.
"We offer a range of competitive prices on
our routes to suit both the business and personal traveller. Travellers can view
www.highlandairways.co.uk
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