HIAL has launched a new television advertising campaign to promote the expanding range of scheduled air services available from its largest airport at Inverness.

The advert, which is running on Grampian Television throughout the region, features birds representing airlines taking off and landing on the branches of a tree and includes the slogan “Inverness Airport, we’re branching out”.

The airport handled a record 565,000 passengers in the year ending 31 March and easyJet is set to launch two new daily flights, to Belfast and Bristol, at the beginning of July.

Inverness airport already handles more than 300 scheduled flights per week to destinations including Gatwick, Heathrow and Luton airports in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Wick, Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh. Airline operators include bmi, British Airways and franchise partner Loganair, easyJet, Eastern Airways and Highland Airways.

Figures released earlier this week by the Civil Aviation Authority show that Inverness was the fastest growing Scottish airport in the calendar year 2004 with growth of 20% from 1 January to 31 December.

Alex Johnson, HIAL’s Commercial and Marketing Manager, said: “Our previous TV campaign raised awareness of the choice of services available from Inverness. With new flights coming on stream we are keen to ensure that as many people as possible within the region take advantage of the enhanced air connections available from their local hub airport.”

James Walton, Inverness Airport Manager, added: “The year ahead will be our busiest ever at Inverness and bookings are already strong for easyJet’s new Bristol and Belfast services that start in July. The new TV campaign will ensure that as many people as possible start and end their journeys at the airport.”

ENDS