This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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First air service to link Highlands and Ireland
14/02/2006
The first direct air service between Inverness and the Republic of Ireland is to be supported by funding from the Executive.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott today announced that the Executive's Route Development Fund (RDF) would support Aer Arann in operating an all year round service from the capital of the Highlands to the capital of the Republic of Ireland.
Mr Scott said:
"Businesses in the Highlands will now have direct access to the economy of the Republic of Ireland. The new air service will also provide more opportunities for tourists from Ireland to visit the many tourist attractions in the north and far north.
"The Route Development Fund now supports 22 year-round routes from Scottish airports to many European destinations as well as to the USA and Dubai and this year a further ten routes are set to take off.
"The fund has made a real difference for business travellers and tourists by expanding our direct air services to the rest of the world."
Aer Arann's Dublin service will be operated by an ATR72 aircraft with a capacity for 70 passengers. It will operate 4 rotations a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) year round with a mid-day arrival from Dublin and departure time of 12.45.
The Route Development Fund is provided through the Scottish Budget with £14.4 million funding over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08. The criteria for investment in new air services serving the Highlands are different recognising the area's ability to sustain air services in the long-term. The level of frequency is flexibly applied and the Fund can be used to support intra-Scotland and seasonal services. The aim is that the Fund should be inclusive and embrace all of Scotland's diverse communities.
The Route Development Fund supports new air links where airlines can demonstrate the services will have a direct economic benefit to Scotland. The flights must involve regularly scheduled services and must not undermine existing flights. The exact amount from the fund given to the airline cannot be disclosed due to reasons of commercial confidentiality.
Since it was introduced in 2002 , the Route Development Fund has brought £87 million of economic benefit to the Scottish economy. Last year fund-supported routes carried 891,000 passengers.