Flybe it is heading to London Heathrow for the first time next year to connect the UK’s largest international airport with Scotland, offering a choice of more than 40 scheduled flights a week from Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

The new routes complement Flybe’s well-established London City flights from the two Scottish airports.

Flybe will operate the slots which became available as a result of commitments required by the European Commission following the acquisition of BMI by International Consolidated Airlines Group.

Flybe is not required to pay to use the slots, other than meet Heathrow landing and passenger charges.

The slots will not be purchased by Flybe and will therefore not be brought onto the balance sheet.

Flybe will be using Heathrow’s Terminal 2 and will offer ‘One Stop to the World’ connectivity to its codeshare and interline partners.

Flybe executive chairman, Simon Laffin, said:  “We are delighted to announce our first flights to London Heathrow, significantly enhancing our UK domestic route network and offering even better links between Scotland and London.

“The new routes to Heathrow complement the existing ones we operate to London City, and will benefit our business customers and customers in Scotland who want to connect with our long haul codeshare partners.

This route expansion means that, with effect from March 26th, Flybe will offer up to 18 flights a week between London and Edinburgh, and ten between London and Aberdeen.

Heathrow chief executive, John Holland-Kaye, added: “Improving the connections into Heathrow from all around the UK will be vital in helping to secure the economic future of communities in every corner of the nation.

“Today’s announcement shows that the measures we’re introducing, such as the £10 reduction on domestic passenger charges, are already working to secure vital links.

“More airlines flying routes to Scottish airports means more flights, more competition and choice for families, and more visitors to Scotland.

“With Flybe based at Terminal 2, it also means new, unique direct access from Heathrow to markets such as Colombia, Taipei and Auckland – meaning more opportunity for Scottish businesses looking to reach new export markets.”