This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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New air route for Inverness
05/10/2006
The Executive's Route Development Fund has helped secure another new service from Inverness to England.
The new route, to be operated by Ryanair, will bring a three day a week service between Inverness and the East Midlands.
The announcement follows only days after flights taking passengers from Inverness to Liverpool left the tarmac at Inverness Airport for the first time.
Transport Minister Tavish Scott said:
"This is another boost for Inverness. Two days ago we saw a new service between Inverness and Liverpool leave the tarmac at Inverness Airport for the first time.
"And now, we have a new route between Inverness and the East Midlands. With passenger numbers at Inverness airport continuing to rise, things are looking very encouraging for the North of Scotland.
"The Route Development Fund is making a real difference across the country.
"This new route will provide further opportunities for people in the north of Scotland to visit other parts of the UK, and will attract many tourists and business travellers to the North of Scotland.
"I am positive the Route Development Fund will continue to encourage airlines to expand in Scotland, and further increase the number of direct air services to the rest of the UK, Europe and the world."
Ryanair intends to introduce the new service between Inverness and Nottingham East Midlands in May 2007. It is intended to operate a three day a week service (Monday-Wednesday-Friday)
The services will be operated on a 737-800 aircraft with a maximum of 189 seats.
The Route Development Fund is provided through the Scottish Budget with £14.4 million funding over the period 2005-06 to 2007-08.
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 November 2002 , the Route Development Fund has brought aound £100 million of economic benefit to the Scottish economy. There are now over 30 routes currently operating which are supported by the RDF, and last year fund-supported routes carried about 1.4 million passengers.