Inverness doubles Dutch flights
Twice as many flights will connect Inverness and Amsterdam this summer due to soaring demand.
The move by KLM to introduce a second daily service has been hailed as a “real vote of confidence in Inverness Airport” by Transport Minister Humza Yousaf.
The additional service, which will also feature a larger aircraft, will run from May 15 to October 28 to coincide with the busy summer season.
KLM only introduced its first service to Amsterdam Schiphol in May last year, but since then it has reported a high level of bookings from people eager to travel via the busy European hub to destinations across the world.
Highlands and Islands Airports manages the Inverness site.
Managing director Inglis Lyon said: “An extra flight will make a huge difference to passengers wishing to travel for business and pleasure. The early morning departure means travellers have more options for onward connections. “This is a fantastic commitment from the airline to the region and is mainly due to the 2016 passenger numbers punching above their weight.”
Last year Inverness Airport handled almost 800,000 passengers, up more than 17 per cent on 2015’s figures.
Mr Yousaf added: “A second daily flight will give people greater choice when it comes to their travel plans and, by using larger planes on the route, it’s a real opportunity for both the airport and the airline to build on the fantastic passenger numbers we’ve already seen on this service.
“Having more flights to an important hub like Schiphol is crucial to the connectivity of the Highlands and I look forward to this new service getting off the ground.”
The investment was also welcomed by Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey MP Drew Hendry.
He said: “This is great news for the Highlands and will benefit businesses, visitors and locals alike.
“Having a flight that goes to Europe twice a day means Inverness Airport is better connected than it has ever been, putting Inverness to at the heart of European and worldwide air connectivity. This is the result of a lot of hard work by Inglis Lyon and his HIAL team who, I am sure, will continue to focus on growing links to Inverness Airport.”
