The Highlands’ newest air link will take off this morning with the launch of a daily service between Inverness and Liverpool operated by Ryanair.

The new daily air link will provide a major boost for inbound tourism in the region and open up a host of new UK and international travel opportunities for local residents travelling via Liverpool.

The new route was announced in April and is the airline’s first service at Inverness, the most northerly UK airport it operates to. The new air link has qualified for support from the Scottish Executive’s Route Development Fund.

Liverpool is the fifth new route to come on stream at Inverness this year following the introduction of services to Dublin, Leeds Bradford, Newcastle and Benbecula earlier this year. Flybe will launch flights between Inverness and Belfast City Airport in December.

Inverness, the fastest growing airport in Scotland in 2004 and 2005, now handles more than 330 scheduled flights a week to destinations including Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Benbecula, Stornoway, Kirkwall and Sumburgh.

In the first five months of the 2006/07 operating year, to the end of August 2006, the airport has recorded a 12% increase in passengers compared to last year.

The new air link has been welcomed by Highlands and Islands Airports and local business leaders.

Ryanair UK Sales Manager Caroline Baldwin said: "We're delighted to launch our new Inverness-Liverpool service today. It will revolutionise air travel in the Highlands by providing a fast and cheap link to our Liverpool base with thirty-four destinations around Europe, and will also allow thousands of people from the north-west to access the beautiful Inverness area at low cost. We expect that some 100,000 passengers will travel on the route in the first year.

She added: "Liverpool is a fab place to visit. The birthplace of the Beatles, it's a modern, vibrant city and will be the European Capital of Culture in 2008.

"It's already well-known around the world for its maritime heritage, architecture, music, literature, the arts and sport and the Capital of Culture title will place the city firmly on the map. Nearly two million extra visitors are expected to attend the many world-class festivals and events that will take place in the run-up to and including 2008. And now it's just an hour away from Inverness with Ryanair.

"To celebrate the launch of the new route, Ryanair is offering fares from just £10 one way inclusive of taxes and charges. They are available from today on www.ryanair.com and we recommend that passengers book early as demand will be very strong."

Inverness Airport manager James Walton said: “We are delighted to see Ryanair’s Liverpool service start today as this marks the entrance of another new operator at Inverness and opens up more choice in air travel for Highland residents. The new route is predicted to generate as much as £10 million per annum for the local economy and demonstrates the importance of the development we have achieved at Inverness to date.

“The Scottish Executive’s Route Development Fund has played an important role in enabling us to get this new air link up and running with Ryanair. We hope that this will be the start of a long and successful partnership with the airline at Inverness,” said Mr Walton.

Stuart Black, chief executive of HIE Inverness & East Highland said: “The new Ryanair service provides a welcome addition to the range of destinations served by Inverness and should bring in significant numbers of in-bound tourists. It will also provide links to another of the UK's major conurbations with potential business spin-offs for the wider Highland economy.”

Simon Cole Hamilton, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce said: “Ryanair is recognised as Europe's largest low cost airline and it is wonderful news that they are now including Inverness in their destinations. This will be very good for our tourism sector, adding significant numbers of extra visitors throughout the year.

“A direct air connection to Liverpool will also link Highland businesses to another large English marketplace, offering further expansion opportunities. Liverpool is a hub airport giving us connections to travel to many other destinations using Ryanair and other airlines.”

For flight information and booking for Inverness – Liverpool visit Ryanair’s www.ryanair.com website.