Highland Airways is offering half-price flights on its two newest Scottish services until the end of January to enable travellers to beat the winter blues.

Passengers booking on the regional carrier’s Inverness-Glasgow and Benbecula-Glasgow services will receive a return flight for no charge when they book a one-way fare during January, subject to availability.

The offer means that passengers can travel from Inverness to Glasgow for £79 return and between Benbecula and Glasgow for £89 return until the end of the month, exclusive of airport tax.

The Inverness-based airline’s weekday Inverness-Glasgow link offers excellent timings for business and leisure travellers, departing Inverness at 0700 and returning in the evening at 2005 – perfect for a day’s business or shopping.

Flights leave Benbecula for Glasgow twice a day on weekdays at 0925 and 1715 with inbound services from Glasgow Airport at 0810 and 1600.

Both services are operated with Jetstream 31 aircraft, offering fast and reliable flights.

Basil O’Fee, Commercial Manager with Highland Airways said: "Travelling in the region during January can be a real chore with reduced daylight hours and weather making road, rail and ferry journeys subject to disruption. Flight remains one of the least affected forms of transport in the winter months. We are encouraging travellers to take the strain out of their journeys with this new promotion.

"These offers are excellent value for air travellers both in the Highlands and Islands and in Glasgow. The Inverness-Glasgow and Benbecula-Glasgow services offer good timings for business passengers but we also expect people to take the opportunity for leisure travel.

"Competition stimulates the market in commercial aviation and we are keen to offer deals that allow more people to take the strain out of their journeys and travel with us by air. We intend offering rolling promotions during 2004 on our routes as part of our progressive commercial strategy," said Mr O’Fee.

Significant numbers of seats are reserved for this promotion on each flight and the return must be used by January 30^th, subject to availability on a first come, first served basis.

Highland Airways is also offering a buy one get one free promotion on the Inverness-Glasgow and Benbecula-Glasgow routes until the end of January. The free ticket must be used on the same flight as the full fare ticket. Differing promotions are not combinable.

Highland Airways operates scheduled and charter flights around Scotland in the popular pressurised turbo-prop Jetstream 31 aircraft, with timetables designed to suit travel needs.