| N E W S F E E D S >>> |
Caithness News Bulletins September 2003
|
Highland Airways Enhances Internal Scottish Air Routes Highland Airways today (Wednesday 24 September) announced new weekday services linking Glasgow, Inverness and the Western Isles. The airline will operate early morning and evening flights between Glasgow and Inverness and morning and evening flights between Glasgow and Benbecula with 18-seat Jetstream 31 aircraft from the beginning of November. The pressurised turbo-prop regional aircraft will enhance air links between Inverness, Glasgow and the Outer Hebrides. The new services will in effect replace the Glasgow-Inverness early morning and evening links currently offered by Loganair that are being withdrawn at the end of October. An early 0700 start from Inverness will allow passengers to arrive in Glasgow at 0745 ready for a day�s work, or in time to catch the range of onward flights to the rest of the UK and Europe from Glasgow. The late return in the evening helps complete a useful itinerary option for the range of business and leisure travellers trying to make it back to Inverness in one day. Highland Airways� commercial director Basil O�Fee said: �Inverness City will be relieved by this news which in effect will retain its early morning link to Glasgow and its onward destinations, and the late evening return permitting travellers to complete their day�s work, and still get back to the Highland capital. The recent announcement of the withdrawal of a comparable service by Loganair was met with dismay by the many travellers who use the route, and by business interests keen to retain the maximum number of travel options for commerce. Indeed it was this recent retraction that prompted Highland Airways� announcement today. �Our 18-seat Jetstream aircraft are well-suited to the anticipated usage between Inverness and Glasgow at these times. We are confident that this important service will continue to be viable with such a well-matched aircraft. Glasgow also continues to play a useful interlining role for Highland travellers.� Highland Airways also announced a twice-daily link between Glasgow and Benbecula to commence at the beginning of November. Mr O�Fee said: �It will now be possible, for the first time, to accomplish business and still return home, in the evening of the same day, from either destination. The schedule also links in well with Highland Airways� further links between Stornoway and Benbecula. The Jetstream will arrive in the Uists just after 0900 and be back in Glasgow by 1020. The evening rotation involves a 1600 depart from Glasgow and with an arrival in Benbecula just before 1700. Passengers leaving the islands can catch the 1715 flight from Benbecula to Glasgow. �The Uists have desired a more regular and convenient air link with Glasgow for a long time. Our new timetable will offer travellers a range of travel options that will increase connectivity for the Outer Hebrides with the Scottish mainland. With this new initiative we now are offering links between the Western Isles and both Glasgow and Inverness. Indeed Benbecula will become something of a mini-hub for ourselves with northbound and southbound timetables interacting well with each other. �Highland Airways will continue to seek ways that we can offer services that help improve the linkages of the total air network within Scotland. It is now well appreciated that a sturdy air network underpins so much of the economic and social fabric of a region. We see ourselves as partners in a concerted effort, by many interested partners, to improve the Highlands and Islands� ability to link effectively with itself and the rest of the world. Our air network now incorporates a timetable serving Inverness, Glasgow, Benbecula, Stornoway and Sumburgh. �We offer a range of competitive prices on our routes to suit both the business and personal traveller. Travellers can view www.highlandairways.co.uk for details, or book via our ticket hotline on 0845 4502245, or through their local travel agent,� said Mr O�Fee. Alex Johnson, commercial and marketing manager for Highlands and Islands Airports Limited added: �We are pleased that Highland Airways is taking on the early morning and evening links between Inverness and Glasgow and that there will be no gap in services for travellers on this important business and leisure route. Highland Airways has moved swiftly to take on this route following Loganair�s announcement that it will withdraw its service in the winter. The improved connectivity to Benbecula will also undoubtedly benefit the Western Isles and allow business travellers to conduct business in one day without the need for overnight stops.� New
Highland Airways� services announced today:
Apart from Highland Airways� existing Western and Northern Isles services, it is initially not proposed to offer these new services at the weekend. Highlands and Islands Airports Limited manages and operates 10 airports in the North and West of Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Executive. The airports range from the principal hubs at Inverness, Kirkwall, Stornoway and Sumburgh to those at Barra, Benbecula, Campbeltown, Islay, Tiree and Wick. The company is responsible for providing airport infrastructure, facilitating lifeline air links, developing air traffic in the region and promoting economic sustainability and social inclusion in Scotland�s remoter communities. In year ending 31 March 2003 the company�s 10 airports handled more than 864,000 passengers and over 76,000 aircraft movements. For further information see the www.hial.co.uk website. Highland Airways operate a range of freight and passenger services in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. From its Inverness base the company provides scheduled passenger services to the Western and Northern Isles. The company also offers ad hoc and contract air charter solutions, most notably to the oil industry in Aberdeen. Currently Highland Airways operate three 18-seater Jetstream 31 aircraft and a nine-seater Cessna F406. For further information see the www.highlandairways.co.uk website. Highland Airways Timetable
Please Note Check-in at Glasgow one hour before flight, or as directed at the time of booking. At other airports check-in 30 minutes before departure on all flights at Stornoway, Benbecula, Sumburgh and Inverness. Proof of identity is required at check-in No ticket required � booking reference will be provided at the time of purchase Receipts or written confirmations can be requested at the time of purchase 15 kgs Luggage only (includes hand baggage) � the Flight Captain reserves the right to refuse excess baggage. Excess baggage �0.55p / kilo. If you require assistance boarding, please notify at the time of booking. Special needs or certain discretionary tickets and cancellations must be booked via telephone on 0845 4502245 between 0900 and 1700 Monday - Friday. Online booking will soon be available on www.highlandairways.co.uk Full Terms and Conditions upon request from [email protected]
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||