The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Airlines’ deal takes hassle out flights to US
AdealbetweenIrish carrier Aer Lingus and Europe’s largest regional airline, Flybe, could take the sting out of flying to key north American destinations for passengers in the Highlands.
The codeshare agreement, which takes effect immediately, allows passengers to book flights on the Aer Lingus website from Inverness to the US cities of New York, Boston and Orlando, as well as Toronto in Canada, with a connecting flight in Dublin.
The Inverness to Dublin leg will be operated by Flybe, while the transatlantic stage will be flown by Aer Lingus. However, as the flights are tied in with each other, passengers’ hold luggage can be checkedin at Invernessand will notneedto be collected until the final destination is reached.
The newpact also means passengers will be able to skip lengthy queues at immigration control in theUS by getting pre-clearance at Dublin Airport.
A ticket for an adult wishing to travel one-way to any of the north American destinations a month fromnowwould cost about £500.
Highlands & Islands MP Danny Alexander said the move shows that Inverness Airport is an increasingly important transport hub for theHighlands, and that the time is right for Holyrood to free up funds for it to be upgraded.
“The codeshare agreement between Flybe and Aer Lingus will make travelling to the US easier for passengers, whether for business or pleasure,” he said. “This will only encourage more passengers to travel from Inverness. It adds more weight to my call for the SNP government in Edinburgh to release funds for the upgrade of the terminal building at Inverness Airport.”
Inglis Lyon, managing director of Inverness Airport operator HIAL, said: “This is excellent news for Highland air passengers. It means that passengers can now book trips to the US and Canada using the Aer Lingus website with just one seamless stop in Dublin.
“Aer Lingus is a fastgrowing airline with an exciting long-haul route network. We are delighted that Inverness is now part of that network.”
In June, Exeter-based Flybe, which last month started operating a daily route from Inverness to the Irish capital, announced its first pre-tax profit in four years.
The airline said it made a pre-tax profit of £8.1million in the first quarter of 2014, compared with losses of more than £40million for all of 2013. The latest thoughts on airport expansion from a Whitehall-appointed commission will emerge today when a public consultation on runway options is launched.
The Airports Commission has shortlisted three options for expansion – two at Heathrow and one at Gatwick – with the “winner” due to be announced in summer 2015.
Commission chairman Sir Howard Davies will launch the consultation and is expected to provide further analysis on the options.
Sir Howard has already ruled out the so- called Boris Island option – a new Thames Estuary airport to the east of the capital favoured by London mayor