The UK's British Airways has confirmed this week that it will significantly expand its service between its home base of London Heathrow and the vibrant and beautiful Scottish city of Inverness by operating two daily return services from Monday to Friday and three return services at weekends from summer 2019.
The airline reinstated the route during 2016, and the new enhanced schedule will see an aircraft being parked ay Inverness overnight and it will also mean that passengers can travel down to London, do a full day at work and then fly back to Inverness.
British Airways to increase Inverness flights
From 31st March, 2019 the number of weekly flights the airline operates between the two cities during the summer season will increase from 10 to 16. The winter flying programme between Heathrow Terminal 5 and Inverness will see a doubling from seven to 14 return services a week, with the airline operating a double-daily schedule every day of the week from 27th October 2019. The flights have also been re-timed to offer better connections at Heathrow.
However, rather than celebrate the good news, Phyllis Stuart, Inverness airport manager for British Airways and SNP supporter used route announcement to make a political point, “We have been able to increase flights to Inverness because the airport is exempt from Air Passenger Duty. This outdated and unjustified tax stifles route development plans and costs the UK jobs and growth."
Inglis Lyon, Managing Director of Highlands and Islands Airports, said: “The increased frequency of British Airways flights to Heathrow really is a game changer for Inverness and the Highlands and Islands. It opens up a host of new connections and destinations via one of the world’s great aviation hubs, meaning many more people can travel to and from our region on one ticket. Local businesses will benefit from greater connectivity with London and beyond and it opens up opportunities for visitors to access all that the area has to offer.”
