Inverness Airport announces new Flybe Inverness to Amsterdam route

An event involving key players representing businesses who will benefit from international connectivity will take place tomorrow (Tuesday; 10:30am 17th May) at Inverness Airport's terminal building. The new route, which will bolster Inverness as the Highland gateway for worldwide travel, will be taking bookings as of tomorrow, for the inaugural flight on Monday, September 5th, 2011.

This announcement is a direct result of discussions between Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL),and Flybe with collaborative support and key funding from Highlands & Islands Enterprise (HIE). Support funding also has also been contributed by the Highland Council, the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership (HITRANS) and VisitScotland.

Inglis Lyon, Managing Director of HIAL comments, "Securing a link to Europe's premier hub airport has been a long held aspiration of HIAL and the region and I'm delighted to announce this today. The proposed multi-billion investments in renewables, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) developments and the thriving tourism markets gives this route even greater strategic significance"

Fergus Ewing MSP, says, "As local MSP for Inverness and Nairn I am delighted that Flybe are establishing this new route to Amsterdam. The potential to attract new visitors to the Highlands is enormous. I also hope that the people who live in the Highlands will take the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam. I would like to congratulate all involved who have brought about this new route and the great opportunities it presents to people and businesses in the Highlands."

Mike Rutter, Flybe's Chief Commercial Officer, says: "Flybe understands the importance of air transport for Inverness and the Highlands. We have been keen to open up this route for many years and so are pleased that with the support of our regional partners this has now come to fruition. We

have every confidence that this new route will prove extremely successful in opening up the rest of the world through this key European hub and to further encourage business and leisure connections between these two destinations to Scottish travellers."

The Inverness to Schiphol service will provide seven flights per week during the summer months and six per week during the winter months. Services will depart Inverness Monday to Friday and Sunday from September 5th, 2011 - 23rd March 2012 at 13.05hrs, arriving at Amsterdam at 16.05hrs. Return flights from Amsterdam will depart at 16.30hrs, arriving in Inverness at 17.30hrs. The schedule for Summer '12 will be released in September (2011).