New flights to connect Inverness and Frankfurt from next year

New flights have been announced linking Inverness Airport and Frankfurt in Germany.

The service will begin next June and run weekly over the summer months.

The move will see Discover Airlines operate from the Highland airport for the first time.

Inverness Airport bosses said they hoped the new connection would be used by tourists and businesses.

The service will operate on Saturdays from 19 June to 11 September.

Flights will depart Frankfurt at 13:40, arriving at Inverness at 14:45.

The return service will depart Inverness at 15:30, arriving in Frankfurt at 18:30.

Dan Mason, manager of Inverness Airport, said he believed the flights would bring "greater choice" and access to Germany and the wider European network.

Transport Secretary Stephen Flynn has welcomed the announcement.

He said: "Germany is Scotland's largest European inbound visitor market and the launch of services from Frankfurt to Inverness will help grow the economic benefits of tourism and provide important connectivity for business."

Latest figures from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) suggest the number of passengers passing through Scotland's airports rose sharply in the spring, largely driven by budget airlines.

Despite the disruption caused by the war in the Middle East, almost 300,000 extra travellers took flights compared with the same period last year, a 4% increase.

The figure for Inverness Airport was up by 8%.