A helping of double Dutch for Inverness air travellers could spark a price war as a newcomer competes for passengers on Flybe’s Amsterdam route.
KLM yesterday (WED) confirmed a £79 return price for daily trips to Schiphol from next May – £13 cheaper than Flybe – as part of its 2016 summer schedule. And the flights will be seven days a week compared with Flybe’s six.
Business leaders and tourism operators celebrated the announcement that followed last month’s news that an Inverness-Heathrow connection is to resume after an eight-year gap.
The KLM Cityhopper flights will use Fokker 70 jet aircraft that can seat up to 80 passengers.
The £79 “economy” return fare includes taxes.
Inglis Lyon, managing director of Inverness Airport operator Hial, said: “I’m just over the moon. My team have worked tirelessly on this for the past 18 months, knocking on doors and eventually one of these doors has opened.
“These guys don’t commit that kind of resource lightly. They see that this is a good place to do business and invest for the long term. It’s going to be a competitive environment.”
Warner Rootliep, general manager of Air France-KLM UK and Ireland, said: “Inverness was on the cards for a while and now is the time to make it happen. We’re really excited about it.
“I don’t think the price levels will be that different.”
Asked if KLM would follow suit were Flybe to reduce its price, he said: “Of course, we want to take our fair share of the market and as new entrants we want to defend our share as well, so we’ll see.”
A spokeswoman for Flybe said: “We welcome competition, as it gives customers the option to choose the service that best suits their needs.”
The cheapest Flybe price is one-way from £45.99. It operates daily except for Saturday.
Inverness Chamber of Commmerce chief executive Stewart Nicol described the addition of KLM as “fantastic.”
Fraser Grieve of the Scottish Council for Development and Industry said it was a “tremendous boost” that “demonstrates the lure of the Highlands and Islands.”
Castle Stuart Golf general manager Stuart McColm, at the airport for yesterday’s announcement, said: “This means Inverness can be the first point of entry to Scotland for international visitors who can come straight to the Highlands to enjoy our spectacular golf courses, our beautiful scenery and our famous hospitality.”
KLM flights will depart Schiphol at 9.45am, arriving at Inverness at 10.25am; and depart Inverness at 11am, arriving in Amsterdam at 1.40pm.