An Inverness councillor is calling on the UK Government to resurrect flights from Inverness to Heathrow to safeguard the economic prosperity of the Highlands.
Inverness South councillor Jim Crawford predicts that tourism revenue will plunge when the number of flights from Inverness to London’s Gatwick Airport drops from five to two at the end of March.
He wants the long dormant route between the Highland capital and Heathrow to be brought back into use and given protected status under public service obligation (PSO) legislation.
He said: “The national government has to try to get a PSO on Heathrow so that we’ve got two flights coming in from there so it will help to attract inward investment. With two flights a day we are not going to get any inward investment at all. Highland tourism grew by 13% last year and I think we are going to lose that. It’s a very serious situation.
“I don’t want to get political but the pressure should be put on now while we are still part of the UK, which I think we should remain. If we get independence, the UK government would not be able to do anything as we would be a separate country.
“If we get two more flights at least we would go back up to four a day. To lose three flights a day to Gatwick is outrageous. These remaining flights are going to be chockablock and people are not going to be able to get here.”
Currently Flybe operates two flights a day to London, but the flights will stop on March 31 following the airline’s sale of its landing slots at Gatwick to easyJet.
Earlier this year Flybe’s announcement that the slots would be sold sparked fears among north businesses that the crucial Gatwick connection would be lost or the timing would not allow a return day trip, which is seen as economically vital, but the slots were saved following a Press and Journal campaign.
An easyJet spokeswoman said: “From March 2014 easyJet will increase its capacity between Inverness and London Gatwick by 30%, adding an additional early morning and evening flight.
“In developing this schedule we consulted with and listened to all the points made by government and business leaders.
“The new early flight will allow business travellers to reach London in time for meetings while the evening departure from London enables them to travel home on the same day. The additional seats and affordable fares will also help boost tourism to the Highlands.”
In the last fortnight Flybe announced plans to close its Inverness base with the loss of 35 jobs.