North business leaders have expressed their “surprise” and “disappointment” over a major airline’s decision to end its Inverness to London service.
Flybe has announced that it will suspend its Inverness to London City flights because of lower than anticipated passenger numbers.
They will stop from Sunday, February 22, about four months after the service was introduced on October 27, 2014.
Stewart Nicol, chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce, said: “It has only recently been introduced and it’s hugely regrettable that the demand has not been to a level to allow them to continue. It’s certainly a concern because the connectivity to London is not great at the best of times and we need every opportunity we can get.
“I think the route was, at the time, a very welcome addition the number of fairly limited connections to London. I am puzzled by the announcement. It is a real surprise to me.”
Inverness provost Alex Graham said: “It is very disappointing for Inverness that this has been decided because connectivity to London is vitally important to us as a city centre and for the Highlands in general.
“It does come as a surprise and a disappointment and I just hope that a suitable substitute can be brought in.”
A Flybe spokewsoman said: “Flybe constantly reviews its schedule as part of its disciplined approach to growth.
“As a result, Flybe is regrettably suspending its Inverness to London City service with effect from Sunday February 22 due to lower than anticipated passenger numbers.”
However services from the capitals of Scotland and Northern Ireland direct to the heart of London “have proved popular with customers”, so Flybe is upgrading flights to London City from Edinburgh to six a day and from Belfast to four a day.