Highland Airways new direct flight to Benbecula from Inverness started on Monday 4th September.
Guests and airport staff were invited to see off the first flight at Inverness Airport terminal with a buffet breakfast. Airport Manager James Walton has welcomed this new flight out of Inverness, and will be there to wish the service well on its inaugural flight.
A delegation of 10 business leaders led by the Provost of Inverness, Bill Smith, were the first to take the flight to meet with counterparts in the Uists and discuss ways that the easier link can stimulate business and leisure between the two nodes. The City Centre Retail Manager and Eastgate Centre were represented, as was the City Chamber of Commerce and Travel Agencies. A local MSP, chair of Western Isles Transport Committee, members of Western Isles Enterprise, hoteliers and business leaders provided a Hebridean welcome for the Inverness guests.
An added bonus of the direct service is that it also eases travel times between Inverness and Barra. The onward link can be completed either by the new Eriskay ferry, or by the daily Twin Otter service between Benbecula and Barra’s famous beach airport. The chair of the Transport Committee, Cllr. Donald Manford, is well aware of this benefit, as he is also a councillor from Barra, and will remind the Inverness group of the Barra dimension.
Highland Airways Commercial Director Basil O’Fee mentioned that a sales and marketing effort for the new service has been building momentum over the last few weeks, and that, with online booking, checking fares and securing a seat has never been easier. He added, “When a new service commences it takes regular travellers a little time to realise that they can change the way they travel. We all tend to be creatures of habit, and a Eureka moment is sometimes required to realise that I can change my way of getting there.
“The extra lunchtime rotation between Inverness and Stornoway should also not be forgotten as part of this package of initiatives, as this will help the overall connectivity of the Western Isles with Inverness.
“However we are hopeful that these new services and the workings of the Air Discount Scheme will encourage a whole new raft of travellers to be tempted to take the easier and faster air option in their regional travels. It is surprising how many mainland Scots have never, or only rarely been, to these beautiful parts of their own country.”
For flight information and booking visit www.highlandairways.co.uk
