News that after 18 years Inverness will be once again be connected to Heathrow by a daily British Airways service, has been warmly welcomed in the Highlands

The new year-round service will start in May, connecting Inverness directly to Heathrow’s Terminal Five, opened in 2008 at a cost of £4 billion.

One way 'hand baggage only' fares will be available from £47 Inverness south to the London hub and from £60 Heathrow north to Inverness; and returns from £89.

It will depart Heathrow at 09:55 arriving at 11:30. The return will leave Inverness at 12:10 arriving back at Heathrow at 13:40.

In 1997 British Airways pulled out of its three-times-a-day service to Heathrow, leaving British Regional Airlines to operate a service to Gatwick with smaller planes.

The Heathrow link was re-instated in 2004, with BMI offering daily flights, however the service was discontinued in March 2008. Inverness is currently connected to London by Easyjet flights to Luton and Gatwick.

British Airways said that operating an Airbus A319, with up to 143 seats on the new service, would help encourage tourists from around the world to visit the Highlands, a region “famous for its dramatic landscape, turbulent history and the warm welcome of its people.”

Denize Mcgregor, the airline's 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.”

Inglis Lyon, managing director of Inverness Airport operator, Highlands and Islands Airports Ltd (HIAL), said: “We are delighted to welcome British Airways back to Inverness Airport. This is a significant achievement for the airport as British Airways is a world class airline, serving more than 130 international destinations from Heathrow, giving passengers from Inverness access to a truly global network."