Little bit of Ross-shire makes Amsterdam flight!
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A LITTLE taste of Ross-shire marked an airline's first flight from the Highland capital to Amsterdam on Monday.
Inverness Airport manager, Graeme Bell, and renowned Scottish food writer, Lady Claire Macdonald, celebrated the inaugural flight from Inverness to Schiphol, Amsterdam by showcasing a luxury hamper containing food produce from all over the Highland region.
The tantalising package, which included some produce from Dingwall-based Keltic Seafare, was taken on the first flight and awarded to Ivo van der Vlis, aviation marketing manager, as a goodwill gesture to the linking of the two airports.
Ben Murray, company secretary at Keltic Seafare said, “We were approached a few weeks ago to find out if we would like to contribute towards the luxury hamper and felt that it was a great idea. We decided to donate some of our hand-dived scallop pieces, and fresh picked white crab meat - but the very fact that we were approached is significant in that we have been identified as a leading brand, renowned for quality produce.
“By providing a little sample of some of the delights that we have to offer here in Scotland, we hope that it will offer tourists another enticing element in addition to our spectacular scenery, historic ancestry and friendly culture.”
This new flight for the Highlands boasts a new option for leisure travellers in addition to new business opportunities - including accessibility to food producers from surrounding areas looking to use the Schiphol service to export their goods abroad.
Graeme Bell said, "To celebrate the new connection to Amsterdam we decided to gift Schiphol Airport with some of our finest local produce from our Highland region – it even contains organic carrots grown in fields next to the airport.
"The area is already known for its spectacular scenery, historic ancestry and friendly culture but we wanted to emphasise the food aspect and promote it as an opportunity for exporting foods with a short shelf life into the European mainland and possibly beyond."
Lady Claire Macdonald, said, "The inauguration of the daily flights between Inverness and Amsterdam is truly momentous for all of us who live in the Highlands and Islands. This is so significant because not only does it open up our most beautiful area of Scotland for very many visitors potentially, but it also facilitates travelling to and from the Highlands for the vast numbers of people who use Schiphol, Amsterdam, as the hub for their route wherever they are travelling from or to globally.
"This day is the beginning of the potential for international visits directly into the Highlands for very many people, and the implication for all of us who work so hard within the tourism industry, which is the lifeblood of the Scottish economy, is the most hopeful and positive aspect of this, the inauguration flight."
Inglis Lyon, managing director of HIAL commented, "Seeing the first flight off to Schiphol today has given all at HIAL a great sense of achievement. The team has worked extremely hard to bring this route to fruition for the region. Inverness can now truly be seen as the Highland gateway for worldwide travel."
The route has been made possible with funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise, HITRANs, Highland Council and VisitScotland in conjunction with operator Flybe.
Andrew Strong, managing director Flybe UK said "The volume of bookings we have received to date is very promising and an early indication of the route’s success. The fact it has proved popular with both the business and leisure markets is particularly pleasing as it shows that passengers from both countries are benefitting from this convenient and affordable route in order to visit these fantastic destinations."
Scott Armstrong, VisitScotland’s regional director, said, "The introduction of this new route from one of the world’s busiest airports straight into Inverness will be an excellent boost to the area and to the tourist industry throughout Scotland.?
"Flybe has provided easy access into a region where visitors can enjoy culture, heritage and, in the year of Active Scotland, an exciting choice of adventure holidays.
"The Netherlands represents a significant market for Scotland and the new service will provide a real opportunity for the industry to reap the economic benefits of anticipated growth."
To celebrate the inaugural flight in style, passengers on the outbound flight were gifted with a complimentary glass of champagne and the Dutch inbound flight saw passengers greeted with a ‘dram’ and piped in by ‘Spud the Piper’, who is best known for performing at Madonna’s wedding at Skibo Castle.
Inverness Provost Jimmy Gray was also present and awarded a bottle of Town House malt whisky to the ‘first’ passenger who disembarked from the inbound Schiphol flight.
Service details
The Inverness to Schiphol service will provide seven flights per week during the summer months and six per week during the winter months. Services will depart Inverness Monday to Friday and Sunday from September 5th, 2011 – 23rd March 2012 at 13.05hrs, arriving at Amsterdam at 16.05hrs. Return flights from Amsterdam will depart at 16.30hrs, arriving in Inverness at 17.30hrs. The schedule for summer 2012 is expected shortly.
