No Heathrow link costs Inverness 50k passengers

Inverness Airport loses passengers to other Scottish airports over the lack of a Heathrow link. Picture: Public Domain

• SCDI study shows workers switch Scottish airports rather than taking London transfer

• Inverness-Heathrow flight lost in 1997

The study by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) shows how thousands of workers in the north travel to other airports to fly direct to Heathrow instead of transferring within London.

The online survey researched nearly 300 businesses employing more than 40,000 people across the Highland, islands and Moray.

It was conducted between June and July to examine air connectivity amid fears the Gatwick service would be reduced after easyJet bought Flybe’s slots at the London airport.

Flybe currently operates an early morning flight to Gatwick, with an evening return – seen as vital to businesses in the north.

EasyJet has since committed to the service when they take over the slots neat year.

However, the survey – conducted in conjuction with Inverness Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Businesses – reveals Inverness Airport is still losing out by having no Heathrow connection.

It was lost in 1997 and is unlikely to be reinstated without Government support.

SCDI Highlands and Islands manager Fraser Grieve said: “It is no surprise that businesses across the region feel so strongly about the importance of our air connections and that Gatwick and Heathrow are seen as the only airports that provide the connectivity needed to and through London.

“The scare following the announcement that Flybe was to sell its slots at Gatwick has rightly brought organisations together to look at how best to address this issue going forward and we are grateful that easyJet are able to provide a service which meets passenger demand and the key commuter service to London.”

Inverness Chamber of Commerce chief executive Stewart Nicol added: “The Chamber has long understood the challenges that businesses here face in reaching customers both around the UK and the world, and that is why it is so vital that we have air services that meet the economic needs of the region.

“The loss of the Heathrow service many years ago was a real blow and the result that over 50,000 passengers a year could be lost from Inverness to other Scottish airports demonstrates how vital it is that we protect our current Gatwick link.”

Amanda Frazer, chairwoman of Highlands and Islands Federation of Small Businesses, said: “Small businesses account for more than 98% of businesses in Scotland and it is good to see that this survey has had such a high response from businesses of all sizes.

“Access to and through London by air is of the utmost importance to every sector of our economy – It is not just about getting people to and from Inverness, for Inverness acts as a hub for the whole region and many passengers from London will travel on from here. We will all be working to see what further steps can be taken to support our air services going forward.”