The daily services, operated by easyJet, will also open up a host of new onward connections for Highland travellers and provide direct access to two important UK business regions.

Belfast and Bristol each offer scheduled flights to more than 35 city destinations in Europe and the USA.

easyJet flights from Inverness to Belfast International Airport start on 1 July followed by its Bristol International Airport service on 7 July. Both services will operate one return flight seven days a week.

James Walton, HIAL’s Inverness Airport Manager, said: “In the next 12 months easyJet expects to handle around 350,000 passengers on its four routes from Inverness to Belfast, Bristol, Gatwick and Luton. Based on the performance of the airport’s other cross-border routes around 70% of the passengers using the Belfast and Bristol services will be inbound and will provide a considerable boost to the tourism economy in the area.

“July will see easyJet double its aircraft capacity at Inverness and this will play an important part in the airport hitting its target of 700,000 passengers in the current operating year 2005/06.”

Stuart Black, Chief Executive of Inverness and Nairn Enterprise, believes the new routes will also open up new business opportunities for the local area.

“Both Bristol and Belfast are centres of strong regional economies and it is important that businesses in the Inverness area seek to benefit from having direct air access into these markets,” he said.

“Direct air links are crucial to economic growth and easyJet’s new routes open up many opportunities for onward travel to Europe and the USA. They will also bring many more visitors into the region and assist with the growth of the leisure and hospitality industry in Inverness and the surrounding area.”

Councillor Charlie King, chair of The Highland Council’s Transport, Environmental and Community Services Committee said: “This expansion of air services at Inverness is extremely welcome, making the Highlands more accessible from the rest of the United Kingdom and beyond. This development will underpin the HITRANS initiative of a network of PSO air services for the Highlands and Islands.”

For booking and flight information for Belfast and Bristol visit the www.easyjet.com website.

For information on Belfast International Airport visit www.bial.co.uk and for Bristol International Airport visit the www.bristolairport.co.uk website.

ENDS