A NEW campaign is to press for restoration of air services to Skye after an absence of 24 years.
The FlySkye campaign, launched in the island capital, Portree, on Monday, wants an air service to the Central Belt.
The last air service to Glasgow, by Loganair, was withdrawn in 1988. The journey takes seven-and-a-half hours by rail and five-and-a-half hours by road.
FlySkye will be launched at a meeting of Destination Skye and Lochalsh, the local business body promoting tourism in the area.
Highland Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, and the Highlands and Islands Transport Partnership are already pledged to conduct a survey into the potential of a scheduled air service.
A similar exercise in 2007 estimated an upgrade of Skye's airstrip at Ashaig near Broadford could cost up to £48 million.
FlySkye says demand for air services was demonstrated by that report.
Speaking in advance of the Destination Skye and Lochalsh meeting, Boyd Robertson, principal of the Gaelic College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, and one of the instigators of the FlySkye campaign, said: "Skye and Lochalsh needs an early resumption of air links to allow our businesses, tourist providers and communities to compete effectively in the modern world.
"Air links would boost economic activity on the island and in Lochalsh and create employment at this time of austerity."
Shirley Spear, owner of the renowned Three Chimneys restaurant and the recently appointed Ambassador of the Year at the annual Highlands and Islands Tourism award, has backed FlySkye.
She said: "The option of extending a flight to any of Scotland's main airports onwards with a short hop to Skye would bring addi-tional visitors to Skye and Lochalsh and make the whole area an easier business destination."
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