A new scheduled air service will commence between Inverness and Manchester from Monday 4 November 2002. Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Inverness and Nairn Enterprise (INE) have both been closely involved in the work to secure this new service as part of our efforts to improve the global connections of the Highlands and Islands. In particular, INE have contributed £85,000 in start-up funding, primarily aimed at supporting the marketing of the new service.

The new service will be operated by Eastern Airways and will offer three return flights daily, Monday to Friday, providing good travel opportunities to one of the UK's major cities and extending the region's non-Scottish air services beyond simply London. The service will also provide connections between Manchester and international destinations, including; Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Chicago, New York and Washington DC. Full details of the service are available at www.easternairways.com.

HIE will continue to work in partnership with Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL) and other stakeholders to enhance the air services to and within the region.