European Regional Airline of the Year, Eastern Airways, has announced that it will be linking Inverness and Southampton by air for the first time ever from the end of this month.

From Monday 30^th October, the weekday Inverness to Leeds Bradford service will offer an onward leg to Southampton, providing a new convenient link for business travellers visiting the finance and insurance institutions located around the M3 corridor. The service will also appeal to travellers heading to the coastal cities of Southampton and Portsmouth as well as passengers taking onward luxury cruises.

Eastern Airways Scotland Director, Graeme Ross, said: “This new link is by far the quickest option for those travelling from the Highlands to the South Coast of England, the M3 corridor as well as cruise passengers connecting for sailings from Southampton.

“Southampton is also just an hour away from Central London by train and with a thirty minute frequency between the airport station and Waterloo, it has become an increasingly attractive method of travelling to the capital.”

Inglis Lyon, managing director of Highlands and Islands Airports said: “I am delighted that Eastern is opening up a new air link between the Highlands and the south of England. I’m sure that the convenience of this service will attract business and leisure traffic in both directions.

“Inverness is on target to record its busiest ever year in 2006/07 and it is encouraging to see one of our valued airline partners continuing to develop its network from the largest airport in the region,” said Mr Lyon.

The southbound flight will depart Inverness at 1215 arriving in Southampton at 1520.  Flights leave Southampton at 0835 and arrive in Inverness at 1140.

The new route will complement Eastern Airways’ existing services from Inverness to Birmingham, Manchester and Leeds Bradford and online fares will start from £99 return including taxes, fees and charges.

For flight information and booking visit the  www.easternairways.com website.