A NEW service which will offer direct flights from Inverness to Amsterdam is being launched by a budget airline.Passengers will be able to book flights from Inverness Airport to Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, with Flybe from tomorrow for the inaugural first flight on Monday September 5 this year.The new route is expected to bolster Inverness as the Highland gateway for worldwide travel.

The Inverness to Schiphol service will provide seven flights per week during the summer months and six per week during the winter months, according to Inverness Airport.Inglis Lyon, Managing Director of HIAL said: Securing a link to Europe’s premier hub airport has been a long held aspiration of HIAL and the region and I’m delighted to announce this today. The proposed multi-billion investments in renewables, University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) developments and the thriving tourism markets gives this route even greater strategic significance.Fergus Ewing MSP, added: As local MSP for Inverness and Nairn I am delighted that Flybe are establishing this new route to Amsterdam. The potential to attract new visitors to the Highlands is enormous. I also hope that the people who live in the Highlands will take the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam. I would like to congratulate all involved who have brought about this new route and the great opportunities it presents to people and businesses in the Highlands.Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Flybe understands the importance of air transport for Inverness and the Highlands. We have been keen to open up this route for many years and so are pleased that with the support of our regional partners this has now come to fruition. We have every confidence that this new route will prove extremely successful in opening up the rest of the world through this key European hub and to further encourage business and leisure connections between these two destinations to Scottish travellers.

Scott Armstrong, Regional Director for VisitScotland, says, “This new route is brilliant news, not only for the Highlands, but for Scotland as a whole. Amsterdam is a global travel hub which will bring new visitors to Inverness, not only from the Netherlands, but from the rest of mainland Europe and from even further afield. Flybe’s valuable new service will allow even more overseas visitors to enjoy everything, including wonderful scenery and a warm welcome, that the Highlands has to offer.Services will depart Inverness Monday to Friday and Sunday from September 5, 2011 – March 23 2012 at 13.05pm, arriving at Amsterdam at 16.05pm Return flights from Amsterdam will depart at 16.30pm, arriving in Inverness at 17.30pm. The schedule for Summer 2012 will be released in September 2011.