HIAL has welcomed bmi’s announcement that it will start flying a scheduled route between Inverness and London Heathrow at the end of March 2004.

Alex Johnson, Commercial and Marketing Manager at HIAL, said: "This is significant news at a time when London landing slots are under huge pressure and regional airports are in general losing their London access. The fact that bmi is opening up a Heathrow route recognises the increasing significance of Inverness as a regional hub airport with enormous growth potential.

" I am sure that this news will be hailed as a great boost for Inverness and the region as a whole. It is further evidence that our work with airlines is paying dividends and creating more choice for air travellers in the region."

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