HIE explores demand for flights to Poland

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) is to explore the potential demand for a new air service between Poland and Inverness.

The online survey at www.hie.co.uk/poland-flights will help HIE determine how many people would use the service and how often they would do so.

While a significant number of Polish people are located in Inverness, they are also distributed across the wider Highlands and Islands around key manufacturing and tourism employers.

The Polish community in the Highlands and Islands regularly take trips home, as well as friends and family coming over to visit them throughout the year. Equally many Scots from the Highlands and Islands are expressing growing interest in that part of Europe in relation to tourist visits as well as business expansion.

The information gathered from the online survey will be passed on to Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL) and to airlines who may be interested in developing new routes and services.

Anna Kociolek, HIE's Eastern European officer said: "HIE is keen to develop enhanced links with Eastern European countries as part of our strategic objectives to develop global connections and population growth. We want to encourage people to fill in the online form and pass on the information to friends and family so we can make this a success."

The survey takes less than five minutes to complete, and is open to anyone who would use a new air service, whether they are currently living in Poland or the UK.

Both Polish and English-language versions are available. It is available online for four weeks until 14 September.

The results of the survey will be published afterwards at the same web address - www.hie.co.uk/poland-flights 

The survey is also being promoted at: szkocja.net - Scotland's main portal for the Polish community.