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Flight route linking Heathrow and Inverness takes off for the first time in 20 years

The first flights on a new daily service between Heathrow Airport and the Highlands begin this week, after British Airways reinstated its service to Inverness.

Offering over 100,000 seats annually, the route marks the first time since 1997 that Inverness and the Highlands have been connected to the hub airport.

The launch of the new service has also coincided with research by Heathrow which claims that trade and tourism from a daily link between the two airports could boost Inverness’ economy to the tune of £8m a year.

Heathrow Chief Executive Officer John Holland-Kaye said: “The Inverness-Heathrow route offers so much potential for the businesses and people of the north west of Scotland who for too long have been let down by the indecision on airport expansion.

“Today is a momentous day – Inverness joins Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle with a route into Heathrow and access to markets from Manila to Mexico City, from Chicago to Chengdu, from Hanoi to Houston.

“It means more growth and a more secure economic future for the Highlands and I’m delighted that we’re able to be a part of that future success.”

Stewart Nicol, Chief Executive at the Inverness Chamber of Commerce added: “This is a very significant development for the Highland business community in terms of increasing the connectivity between Inverness, London and the South-East of the UK.

“This will make it much easier for Highland businesses to connect to markets across the world. It is also a significant endorsement of all that HIAL have done to secure the UK’s leading airline, and one of the world’s most iconic commercial airline brands, back to the city of Inverness.

“In addition to making it easier for Highland businesses to access global destinations from Heathrow, this route makes it much easier for tourists from across the world to get to Inverness.”