Flights Gran Canaria: Inverness launches first-ever direct service as Highlanders board inaugural charter

Flights Gran Canaria began from Inverness with the first-ever direct service departing on February 17 (ET) as part of an exclusive five-week programme run by a Highland travel firm. The maiden flight, departing at 2. 47pm ET, drew local travellers who said the route removes long transfers and added costs.

Flights Gran Canaria — What happened and what’s new

The first direct flight between Inverness and Gran Canaria operated on February 17 (ET), departing at 2. 47pm ET. The five-week programme of charters is being run by Murray Travel, which has leased a plane from Air Baltic for the series. Company leadership described the inaugural service as nearly full.

The route follows a string of charter services the firm ran to Lapland late last year. Travellers interviewed during a visit to Inverness Airport said they welcomed the new direct option and highlighted practical savings and schedule conveniences compared with travelling to larger airports elsewhere.

Passengers cited a range of reasons for choosing the Inverness departure. One traveller from Elgin said a direct flight avoided the need to travel to Edinburgh. A group of friends based in Inverness said the later departure time allowed routine morning activity that would not be possible with very early departures to other hubs. Another couple, travelling to Gran Canaria for the first time, estimated out-of-pocket savings when departing from Inverness rather than travelling to Glasgow or Edinburgh, citing figures for travel and parking that they said would make flying from the local airport cheaper.

The project was described by company leadership as nearly three years in the making, with the firm noting belief in the potential of the local airport and describing Gran Canaria as a popular destination for Highland travellers. Leaders highlighted the convenience of direct services, saying passengers avoid lengthy layovers and stressful connections and the need for late-night drives on regional roads after a long flight.

Behind the headline

The new Flights Gran Canaria programme is driven by a Highland travel firm that chartered a plane to offer an exclusive short-term schedule. The firm framed the initiative as a response to local demand and past charter experience, pointing to prior seasonal services as a precursor.

Key stakeholders in the rollout include the chartering travel company, the operator providing the aircraft, Inverness Airport as the departure point, and local passengers. For travellers, the chief incentives are convenience and cost savings compared with travelling to larger airports. For the travel firm, the initiative builds on earlier charter activity and on a stated belief in the potential of the regional airport.

What we still don’t know

• Full timetable and frequency of the remaining services in the five-week programme beyond the maiden departure.
• Ticket pricing, total capacity across the programme, and how many of the subsequent flights are sold or unsold.
• Details of the charter agreement with the aircraft operator and whether the arrangement allows for extension or repeat seasons.
• Longer-term plans for additional direct routes from Inverness beyond Gran Canaria.
• Operational contingencies or passenger-support arrangements should demand or disruption occur.

What happens next

• Extension scenario: If the five-week programme fills consistently, the travel firm could seek to repeat or extend similar charters in future seasons; passenger uptake would be the trigger.
• Short-term review: The firm may evaluate load factors and customer feedback during and immediately after the five-week run to decide on future scheduling; commercial performance will drive that assessment.
• Local demand response: Clear passenger savings and convenience could prompt calls from travellers for more direct flights to other destinations; sustained demand would be the signal.
• Operational constraints: Any logistical or contractual limits tied to the charter could prevent expansion despite demand; those limits would become apparent in post-programme statements or planning.

Why it matters

The direct Flights Gran Canaria programme alters travel calculus for Highland passengers by offering a local departure for a popular winter-sun destination, reducing the need for extra travel, parking and overnight stays elsewhere. Practical benefits cited by travellers include time saved at security and shorter overall door-to-door journeys, alongside potential monetary savings when not needing travel to larger hubs.

For the local travel firm and Inverness Airport, the initiative tests demand for point-to-point leisure charters and could influence future seasonal scheduling. In the near term, the programme provides a direct alternative for residents seeking winter sun and offers a concentrated period to measure commercial viability for additional direct services.