The first scheduled flights linking the Highlands with Dublin will take off today (Monday 10 April 2006).

 

Aer Arran’s new service between Inverness Airport and Dublin is due to touch down for the first time at 11.45am this morning with the first passengers from the Highlands departing for Dublin at 12.15.

 

The service, which is being supported by the Scottish Executive’s Air Route Development Fund, will operate four times per week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday departing Dublin at 10.30am and Inverness at 12.15pm. For flight information and booking visit the www.aerarann.com website.

 

The introduction of the first direct air link between the Highlands and Dublin has been welcomed by business organisations and tourism representatives in both regions.

 

The route will be operated with 66-seat ATR-72 aircraft with a flight time of one hour 15 minutes. This service adds to the airlines existing Scottish routes to Edinburgh and Glasgow Prestwick from Cork and Donegal.

 

Aer Arann is one of the fastest growing regional airlines in Europe with a turnover in excess of €94 million and projected passenger numbers of 1.2 million for 2006. Aer Arann currently operates over 600 flights per week across Ireland, the UK, France and Belgium. Today’s launch will bring the number of routes in the network to 36 for summer 2006.

 

Inverness was the fastest growing major airport in Scotland in 2005 and is on target to record its busiest ever operating year in 2006/07 with more than 750,000 passengers forecast. Eastern Airways will launch a Leeds Bradford service from Inverness on 24 April while Ryanair will start direct flights to Liverpool in October.

 

Commenting on the route launch Micheal O’Callarain, marketing manager at Aer Arann said “We are delighted to be launching our Inverness to Dublin service today. Since announcing the service we have received tremendous feedback from passengers wishing to use the service. We believe there is considerable potential for this direct service to Dublin and look forward to working with both airports to develop the service over the coming months.”

 

Inglis Lyon, managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports said: “It’s fantastic to see our first new service for 2006 taking off at Inverness. It opens a host of new opportunities for local residents and businesses and should boost inbound tourism for the region in the months ahead.

 

“We’ve had great support from the Route Development Fund and local partners in getting this route in place and we all look forward to working with Aer Arann in the months ahead to ensure that it proves to be another success for the Highlands.”