From early next year regional airline Eastern Airways will base an aircraft at Wick, enabling Caithness travellers to fly to London and return home without the requirement of an overnight stay.

The company is set to expand its operations in the North of Scotland with new services linking Wick, Aberdeen and Inverness. The service will increase the number of flights on its existing Aberdeen-Wick route and also create new links between Wick and Inverness and Inverness and Aberdeen.

From February 2005, Caithness travellers will be able to access around 60 connections to and from Aberdeen and Inverness, including Eastern’s 11 other UK destinations, dramatically increasing the air connectivity from Wick to UK and international destinations.

To enable the new schedules to operate the airline will base a Jetstream aircraft at Wick, resulting in several local benefits as Eastern Airways’ Scotland Director Graeme Ross explains.

“By basing an aircraft at Wick, I believe we are demonstrating our commitment to the area and in particular the local business community. The augmented service will, not only protect the existing employees we have based at the airport but will also result in a requirement for extra ground staff and cabin attendants.

“The enhanced service now means that passengers who commence their journey at Wick now have access to in the region of sixty connections each way.”

The announcement was welcomed by Scotland’s First Minister Jack McConnell during a visit to Caithness.

Speaking at Wick Airport, one of 10 operated by HIAL, Mr McConnell said: "This is a service the people of Caithness have long called for and I am delighted Eastern Airways have today announced their commitment to air links in the North.

"I welcome HIAL's support for this service. Effective air links are essential to a thriving economy and strong communities. From the beginning of next year Caithness travellers will be able to fly to London and return home that day, a massive boost for the Highland's business community."

Bob Macleod, Managing Director of HIAL, said: "We are delighted that Eastern Airways continues to expand its operations in the Highlands. The airline has played a major part in route development in the region in the past two years and this new triangular service opens up many new opportunities for the people of Caithness and for air travel between Inverness and Aberdeen."

Angela Donaldson, Regional Manager North with HIAL said: “Enhanced connectivity is something that our stakeholders in Caithness have always wanted and this expanded service with Eastern Airways opens up a host of new connections through Aberdeen and Inverness, including access to no frills air services. We hope that people will support this service with their custom and take full advantage of the new connections it opens up for them.”

Eastern Airways operates some 750 scheduled flights each week and will carry approximately 500,000 passengers this year on a network embracing Aberdeen, Belfast International, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Humberside, Inverness, Isle of Man, Leeds Bradford, London Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Norwich, Nottingham East Midlands, Southampton, Teesside and Wick.

Eastern Airways' fleet comprises British Aerospace J32s/J41s; Saab 2000 and Embraer 145 regional jet aircraft.

The revised timetable, which comes into effect from February 2005, is as follows:

FROM WICK TO ABERDEEN

FROM ABERDEEN TO WICK

FROM ABERDEEN TO INVERNESS

FROM INVERNESS TO ABERDEEN

FROM INVERNESS TO WICK

FROM WICK TO INVERNESS

* via INV

For further information on Eastern Airways and to book online please visit the www.easternairways.com website.

ENDS