British Airways is to boost services to Scotland with the start of new daily flights from Heathrow to Inverness, gateway to the Highlands and Islands.

The new year-round service will start on May 3rd 2016, connecting Inverness directly with Heathrow’s T5 and British Airways’ global network, serving more than 130 destinations around the world.

British Airways operates up to 58 return services a day between Scotland and London’s Heathrow, London City and Gatwick airports, more than any other airline, and the most to any other country on the airline’s global network.

Operating an Airbus A319, with up to 143 seats, will also help encourage tourists from around the world to visit the region, famous for its dramatic landscape, turbulent history and the warm welcome of its people.

Denize Mcgregor, British Airways’ head of UK customer service and operations, said: “We are very pleased to be starting our new service to Inverness.

“As the capital of the Highlands, Inverness has a strong and diverse economy and has developed into a major centre for life sciences, commercialisation and research.

“British Airways’ daily flights will benefit the Inverness economy by linking the business community of the city and its environs with our global network of more than 130 destinations, and help boost the area’s vital in-bound tourism sector by bringing even more visitors to this beautiful and historic city, with its unique environment, scenery and culture.”

Local business has also backed the resumption of services between London and Inverness, welcoming the interest and much-needed investment it could bring to companies and people who live and work in the region.