British Airways and Loganair have agreed a new codeshare deal to take effect from September 1.
Scottish carrier Loganair becomes independent from August 31 after a long-running franchise arrangement with Flybe comes to an end.
Under the new deal, Loganair customers will be able to book directly on to BA’s flights from Heathrow, Gatwick and London City.
They will also be able to connect on to BA’s domestic services at Inverness, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen using a through ticket.
Loganair’s new services to and from Manchester will be included in the codeshare partnership as well. The airline flies between Scotland’s highlands and islands and the mainland airports of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.
Rishi Kapoor, British Airways’ head of alliances, said: “We are delighted to be strengthening our business relationship with Loganair with an agreement that will benefit the customers of both airlines.
“We believe the new codeshare agreement will bring enormous benefits to the highlands and islands, significantly boosting the region’s economy by extending the global reach of the area’s businesses and communities through British Airways’ worldwide network.”
The two airlines were franchise partners from 1994 and 2008 and have also operated a codeshare under the Loganair-Flybe franchise.
Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair’s managing director, added: “This announcement marks a new and welcome development in the longstanding partnership between British Airways and Scotland’s airline, Loganair.
“This agreement will offer new travel options to customers connecting via Inverness and Manchester, together with excellent connections between British Airways’ global network and Loganair’s extensive services in the Highlands and Islands.”