More EasyJet flights to London from Highlands
More flights between the Highlands and London will be available next month.
Easyjet will provide additional services on the Inverness to Gatwick route from July 23 until September 5.
It comes as the airline is set to take over Gatwick runway slots used by rival Flybe in a £20 million expected to be confirmed next month. The move includes the departure and landing slots allocated to Flybe’s three daily services between Inverness and Gatwick, which it will stop operating in March next year.
Early morning and evening flights crucial for business travellers are being analysed by Easyjet, which is expected to announce its timetable for next summer in October. It has already pledged commitment to providing a service on the route, which it operates on daily.
But the situation has prompted fears the company could use the slots for more lucrative domestic or international flights. It has led to politicians and business leaders pressing ministers in Westminster and Holyrood to safeguard the route with a public service obligation - protection used by many European Union countries to enable scheduled air services to be maintained on routes vital for the economic development of a region.
The additional flights, scheduled for Tuesdays and Fridays, will depart Gatwick at 6.35pm and land in Dalcross at 8.15pm, before returning south at 8.45pm arriving in the UK capital at 10.20pm. These times are currently operated by its Fridays only service.
These flights were available during the same period last year.
"We add extra services on many routes during summer to cover the peak season," said an Easyjet spokeswoman.
It comes as growth on the flagship route between Inverness and Amsterdam helped Highlands and Islands Airports (HIA) gain 8,180 additional passengers in May, representing a 7.2 per cent spike compared to the same month last year.
Coupled with increased domestic traffic, customers at Inverness Airport rose by 1,406 - 2.5 per cent.
"The continuing success of Flybe’s Inverness to Amsterdam service is welcome news for the region and highlights the importance of Schiphol as a world hub for the north," said Inglis Lyon, HIA’s managing director.
"However, it is vital that the region continues to push for access to London’s main airports, and we are working closely with Easyjet and others to grow the hugely successful Gatwick market. At the same time, we would urge the UK Government to do more to safeguard regional links into London."
Overall, HIA’s 11 airports handled 122,546 passengers in May. Continuing oil sector growth saw Sumburgh attract an extra 4,967 passengers (up 29.3 per cent), while Wick John O’Groats recorded an additional 2,796 passengers (up 123 per cent). At Kirkwall, strong demand for inter-island routes and scheduled flights to Aberdeen, Inverness and Shetland, saw passenger numbers rise by 2,471 (up 17.2 per cent).
The Western Isles airports (Stornoway, Benbecula and Barra) all reported a drop in passenger numbers as a result of recent schedule changes. Dundee’s passenger numbers were similarly down on last year and there were also drops at Islay, Tiree and Campbeltown. However, a new Sunday service between Glasgow and Campbeltown – launched last month – is expected to provide a boost for tourism in the Kintyre peninsula, enabling golfing trips and weekend breaks.
Easyjet will operate additional flights from Inverness to Gatwick from 23rd July until 5th September. Flights will depart Inverness every Tuesday and Thursday at 8.45pm.
Flybe franchise partner Loganair resumed twice weekly flights from Inverness, Kirkwall and Sumburgh to Bergen on 8th June. Flights will operate every Wednesday and Saturday until 31st August.
