Highland Council leader has been reassured by a "positive" reply from the head of easyJet's Scottish operations in response to concerns over the future of regular daily flights between Inverness and Gatwick.

EasyJet last week bought Flybe's slots at Gatwick, including those used to provide three daily return services to Inverness.

Public bodies and commercial interests in the Highlands have been anxious it may no longer be possible to go to London and back in a day once easyJet takes over next March.

Drew Hendry, the SNP leader of Highland's rainbow coalition administration, said: "I greatly appreciate the prompt response from easyJet and I hope to arrange a meeting with Hugh Aitken when he is next in Inverness and hopefully within the next few weeks. "

He said easyJet was Scotland's largest airline and Mr Aitken, who is head of Scotland, easyJet, had assured him his company was committed to serving Inverness.